What is meant by cognitive-behavioral therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) refers to an approach to psychotherapy which is evidence-based and solution-oriented. Instead of focusing on early history or problems related to a person’s upbringing, CBT emphasizes teaching skills and strategies to clients which directly address current problems in living. When I see clients who have survived severe or even catastrophic stressors, managing overwhelming feelings of fear, tension and irritability are usually a high-priority for therapy. CBT immediately addresses this problem through relaxation, soothing imagery, and meditative techniques. These strategies are immediately helpful but not sufficient. Panic disorder, major depression, and PTSD require further work using techniques such as direct therapeutic exposure, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) (see below), and cognitive techniques (for example, learning methods to challenge irrational thoughts).
