If you want to improve your mental health, nothing works faster or better than cognitive behavioral therapy treatment.
CBT works by changing thoughts. When we change what we think about we can change anything from our emotions to our behaviors. That includes improving our health outcomes as well.
But…
CBT isn’t just some new age idea. There’s decades of research proving its effectiveness. Millions of people have found relief each year with this kind of therapy.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Treatment?
- Why CBT Works So Well
- How CBT Transforms Health Outcomes
- Who Benefits Most From CBT
- Getting Started With CBT
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Treatment?
Put simply, CBT is a form of talk therapy that attempts to change negative thought patterns.
Your brain naturally looks for shortcuts. Some of these shortcuts become harmful cycles of thinking. Thoughts like “I’m ugly” can lead to depression. Or “I need this drug to feel better” can lead to addiction.
CBT interrupts these cycles.
In CBT, patients work with a therapist to identify harmful patterns they fall into. The therapist then helps the patient learn skills to replace those thought patterns with healthier alternatives.
Another cool thing about CBT? It doesn’t take years of therapy, twice a week. Most programs range from about 12-20 sessions. A few months of work can change your life.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for addiction has become one of the most common forms of therapy used in treatment centers all over the country. It’s trusted by facilities because it tackles the underlying causes of substance use.
Why CBT Works So Well
CBT works because it goes right at the cause of the problem.
Think about most mental illnesses and addictions. They usually follow the same pattern.
Something happens → You have a thought about it → You feel a certain way → You act a certain way.
CBT stops the process at the thought phase. By changing how you think about something you can prevent the emotion and behavior from happening.
Here are a few other reasons why it’s so effective:
- It’s backed by decades of research
- It focuses on teaching you real world skills
- You can measure your progress to know that it’s working
- You have to be an active participant
CBT has been around a long time. According to recent data, around 60% of adults experience relief from their symptoms with CBT. 60% is a MAJORITY of people getting better because of this treatment!
And the patient satisfaction in mental health treatment that uses CBT is around 70%. Patients that finish their program are sticking around to report that they’re happy with the results.
How CBT Can Transform Your Health Outcomes
CBT can change your thoughts. But it can do so much more than that.
As your thoughts improve, your mental health improves.
Depression starts to lift. Anxiety becomes manageable. OCD thoughts become few and far between. You’ll start to feel like yourself again.
But it doesn’t stop there…
As your mental health improves so will your physical health. You’ll start sleeping better at night. You’ll feel less stressed overall. You might even find that pain you’ve been dealing with becomes more manageable.
The benefits are endless. But what’s most important to understand is that CBT creates changes that last.
Too often with traditional therapy, as soon as you stop going you’re right back where you started. CBT teaches you skills that you can use for the rest of your life.
That’s why it’s so effective for addiction treatment. Substance abuse relapse rates are typically between 40%-60%.
But when you get proper CBT, those rates begin to drop.
Why? Because addiction isn’t a physical dependence on a drug. Sure that plays a role but at the core of every addiction are thoughts and emotions.
The thoughts of “I need this to relax” or “I can’t have fun without this” are what lead to use.
CBT helps people recover by teaching them to recognize these thoughts and replace them with healthier coping strategies. Sure willpower is important but CBT gives you the tools to make better decisions.
Who Benefits Most From CBT?
CBT is great for pretty much anyone. But if you suffer from any of the following things you’ll reap the greatest benefits.
Depression
Studies have shown CBT to be just as effective at treating depression as medication. But where CBT stands out is after the treatment program.
Patients that undergo CBT keep the benefits longer than those that solely rely on medication.
Anxiety
Pretty much all forms of anxiety can be treated with CBT. Anxiety likes to trick you into thinking things are worse than they really are.
But with CBT, you’ll learn to identify these false thoughts and challenge them.
Addiction
CBT can give you the tools you need to beat addiction for good.
Chronic Pain
Okay so CBT won’t take away your pain. But it can drastically change your relationship with pain.
Many people see improvements in their quality of life when undergoing CBT for chronic pain.
Insomnia
If you’re having trouble sleeping CBT can help. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia has even been shown to be one of the best treatments out there.
How To Get Started With CBT
Ready to get started? Here’s what you need to do.
Find A Therapist
This may seem like an obvious first step. But you’d be surprised how many therapists do not specialize in CBT.
CBT is a major branch of psychology these days so most therapists should be able to guide you through it. But for optimal results, look for a therapist that specializes in CBT.
Commit Yourself
CBT requires you to take an active role in your therapy.
You’ll have to complete “homework” between each session. Not only that but once you learn the skills you’ll have to practice them outside of your comfort zone.
Stay Patient, But Don’t Quit
Change doesn’t happen overnight.
You won’t wake up one day and think, “Wow my anxiety feels so much better!”
But you will start to feel small improvements fairly quickly after you first start.
Use What You Learn
This point cannot be stressed enough. All of the work you put in during your CBT sessions will be worthless if you don’t actually use it.
You’re learning these skills to use them when you’re faced with real life situations.
Don’t just sit around waiting for things to get bad again. Go out there and use your new skills!
Wrapping Up Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Treatment
CBT offers patients something that a lot of treatment methods don’t. The ability to become their own therapist.
Once you learn how to identify negative thought patterns and replace them with positive ones you’ll have what you need to overcome any challenge.
CBT helps with…
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Addiction
- And so much more!
Don’t forget…
- Cognitive behavioral therapy works by changing your thought patterns
- Research shows that about 60% of people see major improvements with CBT
- The skills you learn from CBT can last a lifetime
- Just about anyone can benefit from CBT
- To start CBT, find a therapist and commit to the process