How Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Work?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps patients view their situation from a different perspective by directly challenging negative thoughts and fears that the patient may have.

CBT teaches patients to control or get rid of them. CBT is a short term therapy which is directly focused on managing or eliminating specific problems and involves a mutual contribution from the therapist and the patient.

The Mayo Clinic identifies a number of areas where CBT can be used. They include:

Determine the problem – This can be mental or physical, it may be work or relationship stress, depression, anxiety, or anything else that is bothering the patient of the therapy.
Examine the thoughts, behaviours and emotions associated with these problems - Once the problems the patient wants to work on are identified, the patient and the therapist begin looking at how the patient is reacting to those problems.

Spot negative or inaccurate thoughts, behaviours and emotions - There are a number of ways people can perceive or deal with an issue that just makes things worse – including negative thoughts about themselves or an undue focus on the negative aspects of a situation or occurrence.

Work to change the patient's reaction to personal issues - The therapist and the patient work to replace these negative portions of the patient's reaction with more positive and constructive ones, including positive thoughts about the patient's ability to cope, and attempting to view a situation more objectively.

•Cognitive behavioral therapy – Healthline.com 9n.d) Health Line. Retrieved February 12, 2016, from http://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/cognitive-behavioral-therapy#1