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What Is Cognitive Behavior Therapy?

What Is Cognitive Behavior Therapy?

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What is Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a brief, formatted, and present-oriented therapy designed to solve emotional problems by teaching skills that change negative thinking patterns and behavior.

CBT is a type of therapy based on cognitive theory; i.e., that the manner in which people perceive their life circumstances more powerfully causes their emotions and reactions than the circumstances themselves.

The primary purpose of CBT is to help people change their “irrational” thinking patterns so as to achieve enduring improvement in negative emotions and in general functioning. CBT also does much problem solving and borrows from many therapies such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy, compassion therapy, mindfulness cognitive therapy, and solution focused therapy.

Some Key Aspects of CBT

Cognitive formulation – this refers to beliefs, concepts and behavioral strategies that characterize a particular problem or clinical disorder.

Conceptualization – this refers to the specific beliefs or patterns of behavior seeming to cause or contribute to problems for any individual client.

Cognitive model –this refers to the theory that the manner in which people perceive their life circumstances more powerfully causes their emotions and reactions than the circumstances themselves.

Automatic thoughts – these are ideas that pop up seemingly without instigation or choice.

Cognitive Therapists in Denver and Nearby