Exposure therapy can be used to confront fears and phobias. The therapist will slowly expose you to the things that provoke fear or anxiety, while providing guidance on how to cope with them in the moment.

The first order of business in this stage is consolidating the skills you’ve learned throughout therapy. It’s like reviewing for a final exam, but instead of cramming facts, you’re reinforcing healthy thought patterns and coping strategies.

Once you’ve gone through all the basic questions, established your goals, and identified distorted patterns of thinking, your therapist can work with you to pick the right techniques to assess and adjust those thoughts.

In addition to confirming these credentials, it is important to find a therapist with whom one feels comfortable, as CBT is a collaborative process and a strong therapeutic alliance is critical to its success.

It’s increasingly common for someone to be diagnosed with a condition such as ADHD or autism as an adult. A diagnosis often brings relief, but it can also come with as many questions as answers.

Some critics also argue that while CBT addresses current problems and focuses on specific issues, it does not address the possible underlying causes of mental health conditions, such as an unhappy childhood.

This list of cognitive distortions might be causing your negative thoughts. Here's how to identify and stop these distorted thoughts.

There are countless approaches to therapy. We’ll go over some of the most popular types, including how they work and the conditions they work best for.

You’ll work with your therapist to identify which techniques have been most effective for you and how to integrate them seamlessly into your daily life.

The roots of CBT can be traced back to the 1960s when psychiatrist Aaron Beck noticed that his depressed patients often engaged in internal dialogues filled with negative self-talk. This observation led him to develop a structured, present-focused therapy that aimed to identify and modify these distorted thought patterns.

Or you can find a therapist on your own — for instance, through a local or state psychological association or by searching the Net.

be competent in formulating anxiety disorders, PTSD and depression, and in conceptualising interpersonal and systemic issues;

CBT usually takes time and sometimes involves uncomfortable work. Think of your therapist as a partner working with you through a process. If you keep working together toward the goals you’ve set, you’ll be able to mark your progress over time.

Cognitive behavioral therapy may be done one-on-one or in groups with family members or with people who have similar issues. On-line resources are available that may make participating in CBT possible, especially if you live Mental wellness in an area with few local mental health resources.