Educational reference
Treatment overview
Cognitive behavioural therapy is a structured, time-limited psychological therapy. It works from the observation that thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and behaviour influence one another, and that changing one can change the others.
Sessions are typically active and collaborative. A person and their therapist identify patterns that maintain the difficulty, test beliefs against evidence, and try out different responses between sessions. It is usually goal-focused and often involves practice outside the session, which is part of how the approach works rather than an optional extra.
It has been studied extensively across depressive conditions, anxiety conditions, and trauma-related conditions, where adapted versions are used. It may be delivered individually, in groups, or as guided self-help with practitioner support, depending on need and on what is available locally.
Whether it is suitable, and in what form, is decided with a qualified professional. It is not the only effective psychological therapy, and preference matters to outcome.