For example, CBT states that many unhealthy behaviors are rooted in cognitive distortions.
Cognitive distortions may include the following:
- Catastrophizing (making problems bigger than they are)
- Overgeneralizing (saying/thinking things like “this always happens to me” when that’s not true)
- Magnification (exaggerating the negative)
- Minimalization (minimizing the positive)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Types
CBT works to address thoughts, feelings, and actions. This can be done by employing specific types of helpful approaches that embrace cognitive behavioral therapy. It is the basis for most mental health disorder treatment.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
MBCT combines cognitive therapy, meditation, and mindfulness to support patients in learning to pay attention (more consciously) to their thoughts and feelings without judgment. This is performed by applying techniques such as meditation, yoga, and mindfulness.
Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy is designed to assist patients to confront their fears and anxieties head-on. Exposure therapy is done exposing the individual to their fear in a safe, clinical, and supportive environment.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a type of cognitive treatment that directs individuals with acute emotional dysregulation. In DBT, patients learn awareness, acceptance, emotion regulation, and how to control their daily stress levels.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
REBT is another type of CBT that underlines the PRESENT and believes that concentrating on particular events is what leads to emotional distress. REBT believes that destructive thoughts create damaging emotions and self-defeating behaviors.
What Conditions Does CBT Treat?
CBT can be used to treat an array of mental health concerns. The cognitive-behavioral model was first established to treat depression. However, CBT has been utilized to help treat many other conditions.
How Does CBT Help with Substance Use Disorder?
CBT works by helping patients struggling with addiction understand the connection between their thinking, emotions, and behaviors. Once they recognize this relationship, they can start detecting the negative patterns and behaviors that keep them stuck in active addiction. Once patients identify these events, they can begin to change them with optimistic ones in order to recover.
