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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffCognitive behavioral therapy is a common type of mental health counseling (psychotherapy). With cognitive behavioral therapy, you work with a mental health counselor (psychotherapist) in a structured way, attending a limited number of sessions. By helping you become aware of inaccurate or negative thinking, cognitive behavioral therapy allows you to view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way.
Cognitive behavioral therapy can be a very helpful tool in treating mental illnesses such as anxiety or depression. But, not everyone who benefits from cognitive behavioral therapy has a mental health condition. It can be a very effective tool to help anyone learn how to better manage stressful life situations.
- Gafford J, et al. Psychological treatment of psychiatric disorders. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 15, 2010.
- Epp A, et al. Applications of individual cognitive-behavioral therapy to specific disorders: Efficacy and indications. In: Gabbard GO. Textbook of Psychotherapeutic Treatments. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2009. http://www.psychiatryonline.com/content.aspx?aID=369318&searchStr=cognitive-behavioral#searchTerm. Accessed July 15, 2010.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy. National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists. http://www.nacbt.org/whatiscbt.htm. Accessed July 15, 2010.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy, National Alliance on Mental Illness. http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=About_Treatments_and_Supports&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=7952. Accessed July 15, 2010.
- Barbara Woodward Lips Patient Education Center. Understanding psychotherapy for adults. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2010.
- Let's talk facts about psychotherapy. Healthyminds.org. http://www.healthyminds.org/Document-Library/Brochure-Library/Lets-Talk-Facts-Psychotherapy.aspx. Accessed July 16, 2010.
- Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder. 2nd. ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association. http://www.psychiatryonline.com/popup.aspx?aID=49371&print=yes. Accessed July 15, 2010.
- Barbara Woodward Lips Patient Education Center. Cognitive behavioral therapy. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2009.
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