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By Mayo Clinic staffCognitive behavioral therapy is used to treat a wide range of issues. It's often the preferred type of psychotherapy because it can quickly help you identify and cope with specific concerns. It generally requires fewer sessions than other types of therapy and is done in a structured way that deals directly with specific challenges.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a useful tool to address emotional challenges. For example, it may help you:
- Manage symptoms of mental illness, either by itself or with other treatments such as medications
- Prevent a relapse of mental illness symptoms
- Treat a mental illness when medications aren't a good option, such as during pregnancy
- Learn techniques for coping with stressful life situations, such as problems at work
- Identify ways to manage emotions, such as anger
- Resolve relationship conflicts and learn better ways to communicate
- Cope with grief, such as after the loss of a loved one
- Overcome emotional trauma related to abuse or violence
- Cope with a medical illness, such as chronic fatigue syndrome or cancer
- Manage chronic physical symptoms, such as pain, insomnia or fatigue
Mental health conditions that may improve with cognitive behavioral therapy include:
- Sleep disorders
- Sexual disorders
- Depression
- Bipolar disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Phobias
- Eating disorders
- Substance abuse disorders
- Personality disorders
- Schizophrenia
In some cases, cognitive behavioral therapy is most effective when it's combined with other treatments, such as antidepressants or other medications.
- 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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