CBT is based on the cognitive model: the way that individuals perceive a situation is more closely connected to their reaction than the situation itself. British Association For Behavioural & Cognitive PsychotherapiesĬognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a time-sensitive, structured, present-oriented psychotherapy that helps individuals identify goals that are most important to them and overcome obstacles that get in the way. CBT has lots of strategies that can help you in the here and now. CBT works to help us notice and change problematic thinking styles or behavior patterns so we can feel better. When people feel worried or distressed, we often fall into patterns of thinking and responding which can worsen how we feel. If we change one of these, we can alter the others. Some definitions of CBT can help to clarify what makes it unique.Ĭognitive behavioral therapies, or CBT, are a range of talking therapies based on the theory that thoughts, feelings, what we do and how our body feels are all connected. These ideas are the foundations upon which cognitive behavioral understandings and treatments have been built. There are a number of key insights in the cognitive behavioral therapy model which help to distinguish it from other therapies. There are many different types of psychological therapy and each is grounded in its own theory and assumptions about how people ‘work’.