Should I See A CBT Therapist?
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Therapy is shown in various ways across various forms of media. Even if you haven't gone to therapy in the past, you might have seen a depiction in a movie or heard about therapy from a friend. No matter what you've learned about therapy, outside portrayals of sessions can widely differ from real-life experience. In 2021, 41.7 million adults saw a therapist, and one in five adults had a mental illness. Going to a therapist is more popular than showcased in many TV shows and films, and you do not have to be diagnosed or struggling with a medical condition to see a therapist.
One popular form of modern therapy is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Learning how a cognitive-behavioral therapist might benefit you can help you gain a better understanding of therapy and CBT techniques and decide whether to try cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for your concerns.
What is talk therapy?
You may have heard of "talk therapy" in conversations regarding therapy in your daily life. Talk therapy is another term for the type of counseling that involves verbally discussing your symptoms, emotions, and thoughts with a therapist or mental health professional. Often, it's a synonym for CBT. Although talk therapy involves talking, a therapist can also use other forms of therapeutic approach, such as learning, activities, creating art, discussing behavior patterns, or receiving advice.
How does cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) work?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) involves a specific structure, and the therapists who practice this structure are called CBT therapists. Through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) this method, you may develop a treatment plan and work on a specific plan to meet your goals. CBT therapists specifically focus on how thoughts, beliefs, and opinions can create harmful patterns and impact emotional challenges and behaviors. With cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) this type of therapy, you may learn how to change your decision-making process, take power away from harmful thoughts, change unhelpful behavior, and foster healthier relationships. Although it’s often considered a form of short-term therapy, CBT therapists can help determine what length of treatment could be right for you.
What can a CBT therapist treat?
Because cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on your thought and behavior patterns, you can address multiple symptoms or conditions at once. You might discuss preventing a relapse of symptoms, learning stress management in exposure therapy, developing communication skills, improving relationships with family members, working through challenging situations, dealing with loss, or overcoming an adverse experience. While CBT therapists do not prescribe psychiatric medications, this therapy often focuses on resolving problems using talk therapy, allowing it to treat various concerns effectively. In addition, you do not need to have mental illness symptoms or a diagnosed mental health condition to see a therapist.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a clinical practice and can be a beneficial psychological treatment to address emotional challenges and emotional health. Clinical trials have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may effectively help clients manage symptoms of the following conditions and mental disorders:
- Depression
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Eating disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Anxiety disorders
- Sleep disorders
- Substance use disorders
- Sexual disorders
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological therapy that focuses on the causes and the root of each symptom and seeks to change how clients think about themselves, others, and their environments. Along with other treatments, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an effective tool to help change your thought process and thus, CBT may help you feel a sense of control and self-compassion.
Depression
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has shown to be an effective treatment for symptoms of depression. CBT may help you identify negative thinking patterns leading you to feel depressed. By becoming aware of these patterns, you might be able to reframe your thinking.
Anxiety
Anxiety can also successfully be treated with CBT by learning to pinpoint inaccurate thinking that leads to feelings of worry or dread. By identifying these negative thought patterns with CBT therapists, patients can learn to apply cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) rationale to situations down the road.
Eating disorders
Several core principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can also be applied when treating eating disorders. CBT therapists can help someone living with an eating disorder identify unhelpful or inaccurate thoughts related to food and weight. By reframing this thinking, patients can begin to heal.
Post-traumatic stress disorder
People living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can also find healing through CBT. Therapists can help patients better understand their trauma and reframe the ways in which their thoughts related to their trauma affect their behaviors. With time and a good therapist, PTSD symptoms can gradually become less intense.
How to find a CBT therapist
If you've decided you might benefit from CBT treatment, your next step may be finding a clinical psychology provider or therapist. As one of the most popular forms of therapy, many therapists practice CBT. A few standard methods of finding support that you can use include:
- Opt for therapy and start searching online for therapists in your area
- Asking your primary care physician for a therapy referral
- Asking friends and family who have undergone therapy for a referral
- Reaching out to your health insurance provider for coverage guidelines on therapy
- Going to a local mental health clinic for therapy
- Calling 211 for therapy resource suggestions
When searching, ensure the providers you talk to have mental health training and have experience with your concerns. Therapy can be a personal experience, so opening up to someone you don't feel comfortable with may not benefit you. You can make a list of potential therapists and make phone calls for short consultations to ask questions while initially searching for a provider.
Initial mental health therapy session with a CBT therapist
Once you've verified your therapist's credentials and decided on a date for an initial meeting, develop a list of questions or concerns you want your therapist to know during your first session. The intake session often involves the therapist getting to know you and asking you to help them outline your goals for treatment. If you feel uncomfortable, disrespected, judged, or uncertain, you can also try scheduling intakes with other providers to make a choice.
CBT therapy sessions
Talking to a therapist may also help you understand their expectations for your therapy sessions. For example, they can discuss how their first few sessions are typically structured, their approach to treatment, and the methods they usually utilize. They might mention if they offer homework or workbooks to clients. You can also discuss how CBT works, how long treatment might be, and how many sessions may be needed to begin to see improvements.
Aspects of sessions with a CBT therapist
There are four steps in CBT related to identifying and overcoming unwanted thoughts and behaviors related to a particular situation. Each step can be as important as the last. By identifying the situation, understanding your thoughts and opinions, identifying unwanted thoughts, and reshaping your method of thinking, you can start to make changes toward your goals.
At the beginning of your CBT therapy process, your therapist can help you identify the core causes of your intentions to go to therapy. For example, clients might bring up marital problems, anger issues, relationship conflicts, or mental illness. Identifying the mental illness symptoms that are occurring and what problem you want to tackle first can be valuable. You may struggle to find benefits if you cannot identify the problem. However, your therapist can help you come to a conclusion about this area and help you develop problem-solving skills.
After identifying your reason for attending therapy, your therapist can help you outline your thoughts surrounding that situation, including any thoughts you might think are unrelated. You can learn all you understand about the situation and gain techniques to interpret it. Your beliefs about yourself, others, and the world around you can be factored into the discussion to help you create a profound understanding of your situation. In this part of therapy, you might be asked to journal to inquire with yourself about your symptoms. Studies have found that expressive writing, like journaling, can improve mental health disorders.
After understanding your situation, thoughts, and beliefs, your therapist can help you become an active participant and determine which thoughts or beliefs may be harming you. These thoughts are often referred to as cognitive distortions, and there are various categories and labels for them, including but not limited to the following:
- Black-and-white thinking
- Labeling
- Overgeneralization
- Filtering
- "Should" statements
- Re-attribution
- Ignoring the positive
- Jumping to conclusions
By identifying these types of thoughts and learned patterns in CBT, you can learn how to change them. In addition, by having labels for the self-talk that happens in your mind, you may be able to better see when negative patterns occur, allowing you to prompt yourself to challenge them.
Restructuring your thinking with CBT
In the final stage of CBT, you can learn to take unwanted thoughts, behavioral responses, beliefs, or ideas and restructure them through your therapist's aid. They might support you in the process by giving you worksheets, workbook recommendations, or role play exercises. As you work through the thoughts, you can also understand their connection to your behaviors and past experiences in your own life. Your therapist can also help you develop coping skills and plans for your relationships and daily responsibilities.
CBT therapist options
There are thousands of CBT providers across the country, and finding one can be a straightforward process for many clients. However, if you're struggling to afford therapy, can't find a therapist in your town, or prefer to stay at home, you can also try online counseling.
With online CBT, you can attend phone, video, or live chat sessions from home and schedule appointments within your schedule, even if it falls outside of standard business hours. In addition, studies have indicated that online CBT is as effective as in-person methods in treating common mental health conditions like social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and depressive disorders.
If you're interested in finding a therapist within the next few days, you can consider signing up for a platform like BetterHelp, which has over 30,000 therapists, with many specializing in the unique methods of CBT.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) aims to help people recognize and challenge inaccurate thoughts and behaviors, which, in turn, often helps people change their behaviors. Although CBT therapists don’t prescribe medications, CBT can be effective for a variety of mental health conditions and illnesses, including depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. If you're interested in learning more about how CBT works, consider reaching out to a therapist for guidance. With BetterHelp, you can be matched with a therapist who has experience using CBT for various mental illnesses and life challenges. You may find that CBT helps you learn ways to challenge unhelpful thoughts, which may lead to more beneficial behaviors and emotions. Take the first step toward finding a CBT therapist and contact BetterHelp today.
What does a CBT therapist do?
A cognitive behavioral therapist’s role is multifaceted and may include numerous tasks. However, their primary goal may be to help client’s identify and change negative thoughts and thinking patterns that cause them emotional distress.
What is an example of CBT?
CBT in action might involve someone seeking mental health assistance for social anxiety. Using CBT techniques such as role playing, the therapist may help the individual identify problematic thoughts and behavioral patterns that may contribute to anxious feelings in social situations. The therapist could then help the person challenge these thoughts and learn coping strategies when negative thoughts and feelings begin to surface.
How do I become a CBT therapist?
To become a CBT therapist, you’ll need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in counseling or therapy with specialized training in CBT techniques. You will also be required to complete a certain number of clinical practice hours to become licensed, which can vary by state.
What types of mental health disorders are best treated by CBT?
There are numerous physical and mental health disorders that may respond well to cognitive behavioural therapy. Some of these may include anxiety, depression, ADHD, chronic pain, obsessive compulsive disorder, and bipolar disorder among others.
What is the difference between therapy and CBT?
“Therapy” is an umbrella term for many different types of therapeutic modalities, including CBT.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) differs from traditional psychodynamic therapy and other types of therapy because this therapy focuses on specific challenges in the person’s current life. This type of therapy also does not necessarily put a spotlight on their past.
Who needs cognitive behavioral therapy or a CBT therapist?
Many people can benefit from CBT, and you don’t need to have a mental health condition to seek treatment. CBT can help you navigate stressful situations or deal with specific problems in your life such as relationship issues or a medical diagnosis, for instance. If you are looking to change behavioral patterns or unhelpful ways of thinking that tend to make you feel worse, then you may need CBT.
What qualifications do you need to be a CBT therapist?
Mental health professionals who practice as cognitive psychologists need a doctoral degree in psychology and a state license. Cognitive psychologists are specially trained in administering behavioral and cognitive therapies.
Which is better CBT or counselling?
Since CBT is a type of counselling, one is not better than the other. Counselling is an overarching term that encompasses CBT and other therapies.
Who benefits from cognitive therapy?
People who benefit from CBT tend to be committed to the process and open to trying various cognitive and behavioral techniques. They are willing to complete any homework assignments given to them by their own therapists and understand that their participation in the process is critical to making treatment-based progress.
What are the disadvantages of CBT?
There may be disadvantages to cognitive therapies like CBT. For example, CBT may be time-consuming and could overlook social and environmental factors affecting individuals’ mental health.
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