Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCognitive-Behavioral TherapyOther Types of Cognitive-Behavioral TherapyDoes CBT Work for Depression?Medications or Psychotherapy?

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Table of Contents

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Other Types of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Does CBT Work for Depression?

Medications or Psychotherapy?

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There are many different approaches topsychotherapy. Some therapists identify with a particular approach or orientation while others draw from a variety of different approaches. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one specific orientation of psychotherapy that seeks to help people change how they think.

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Beck developed specific procedures to help challenge a depressive client’s assumptions and beliefs and help patients learn how to change their thinking to be more realistic and thus lead to feeling better. There is also an emphasis onproblem-solvingand changing behaviors and clients are encouraged to take an active role in their therapy.

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For example, maintaining a belief that everyone should like you. With REBT, you would learn to change that belief so that it is less extreme and less likely to interfere with your life. Your belief could then change to wanting people to like you but realizing that not everyone will.

Exposure and response prevention therapy(ERP) is yet another type of CBT that is usually used forobsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD). In this therapy, patients are exposed to the situations or objects that cause them the most fear (obsessions) but are not able to engage in the behaviors that help relieve the anxiety they feel (compulsions).

For example, if you are afraid of germs, during ERP, your therapist might have you touch money and then not wash your hands for a specific amount of time. Practicing this over and over helps you gain confidence in dealing with the accompanying anxiety and can greatly help relieve symptoms of OCD with repeated exposure.

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It has been difficult to research the effectiveness of psychotherapy since the term can refer to so many different activities. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, however, lends itself well to research and has been scientifically proven to be effective intreating symptoms of depression and anxiety.

It tends to be short- to moderate-term, in contrast to some other orientations because of its focus on the present, as well as on problem-solving. Its mission to educate the patient to learn to become their own therapist also makes it a long-term treatment.

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Depressionandanxietycan be treated with medications, psychotherapy or both. Some research has shown that the combination of medications and therapy can be particularly effective.

Insurance companies sometimes encourage family doctors to prescribe medications rather than refer to a mental health professional for psychotherapy. There are times when this may be appropriate, but there are other times when psychotherapy is clearly indicated.

If you are taking an antidepressant or an anxiety medication and you believe that part of the problem is not being addressed, consider seeking help from a mental health professional.

What This Means For YouIf you’re interested in trying cognitive behavioral therapy, you might talk to your physician. Your doctor may be able to refer you to a therapist, or you can use an online directory or look for a therapist online.Keep in mind that not all therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy, so it’s important to ask what type of therapy they use prior to setting up your first appointment.

What This Means For You

If you’re interested in trying cognitive behavioral therapy, you might talk to your physician. Your doctor may be able to refer you to a therapist, or you can use an online directory or look for a therapist online.Keep in mind that not all therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy, so it’s important to ask what type of therapy they use prior to setting up your first appointment.

If you’re interested in trying cognitive behavioral therapy, you might talk to your physician. Your doctor may be able to refer you to a therapist, or you can use an online directory or look for a therapist online.

Keep in mind that not all therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy, so it’s important to ask what type of therapy they use prior to setting up your first appointment.

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5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Daitch C.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and Hypnosis as Treatment Methods for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Am J Clin Hypn. 2018;61(1):57-69. doi:10.1080/00029157.2018.1458594Lepping P, Whittington R, Sambhi RS, et al.Clinical relevance of findings in trials of CBT for depression.Eur Psychiatry. 2017;45:207-211. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.07.003Choi-kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What Works in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21-30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103Oud M, De winter L, Vermeulen-smit E, et al.Effectiveness of CBT for children and adolescents with depression: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Eur Psychiatry. 2019;57:33-45. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.12.008Carpenter JK, Andrews LA, Witcraft SM, Powers MB, Smits JAJ, Hofmann SG.Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(6):502-514. doi:10.1002/da.22728

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Daitch C.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and Hypnosis as Treatment Methods for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Am J Clin Hypn. 2018;61(1):57-69. doi:10.1080/00029157.2018.1458594Lepping P, Whittington R, Sambhi RS, et al.Clinical relevance of findings in trials of CBT for depression.Eur Psychiatry. 2017;45:207-211. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.07.003Choi-kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What Works in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21-30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103Oud M, De winter L, Vermeulen-smit E, et al.Effectiveness of CBT for children and adolescents with depression: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Eur Psychiatry. 2019;57:33-45. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.12.008Carpenter JK, Andrews LA, Witcraft SM, Powers MB, Smits JAJ, Hofmann SG.Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(6):502-514. doi:10.1002/da.22728

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Daitch C.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and Hypnosis as Treatment Methods for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Am J Clin Hypn. 2018;61(1):57-69. doi:10.1080/00029157.2018.1458594Lepping P, Whittington R, Sambhi RS, et al.Clinical relevance of findings in trials of CBT for depression.Eur Psychiatry. 2017;45:207-211. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.07.003Choi-kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What Works in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21-30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103Oud M, De winter L, Vermeulen-smit E, et al.Effectiveness of CBT for children and adolescents with depression: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Eur Psychiatry. 2019;57:33-45. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.12.008Carpenter JK, Andrews LA, Witcraft SM, Powers MB, Smits JAJ, Hofmann SG.Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(6):502-514. doi:10.1002/da.22728

Daitch C.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and Hypnosis as Treatment Methods for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Am J Clin Hypn. 2018;61(1):57-69. doi:10.1080/00029157.2018.1458594

Lepping P, Whittington R, Sambhi RS, et al.Clinical relevance of findings in trials of CBT for depression.Eur Psychiatry. 2017;45:207-211. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.07.003

Choi-kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What Works in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21-30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103

Oud M, De winter L, Vermeulen-smit E, et al.Effectiveness of CBT for children and adolescents with depression: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Eur Psychiatry. 2019;57:33-45. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.12.008

Carpenter JK, Andrews LA, Witcraft SM, Powers MB, Smits JAJ, Hofmann SG.Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(6):502-514. doi:10.1002/da.22728

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