What is Cognitive Therapy?

Cognitive therapy is a type of therapy used to treat disorders such as depression, anxiety, addiction, phobias and other problems. It involves identifying irrational and distorted thoughts and learning to replace them with realistic and helpful thoughts.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a combination of behavior modification and cognitive therapy.

• Cognitive - Our thoughts, beliefs and assumptions. Our thoughts affect the way we feel and how we respond to events and challenges, both mentally and physically.


• Behavioural - Therapy aimed at changing behaviour.

A common way of descibing the relationship between cognition and behaviour is called the "hot cross bun" model:

This shows how thoughts, feelings, behaviour and physical response (feelings in the body) all affect each other.

How Cognitive Therapy works

A thought can cause an emotion. So by changing the way you think, you can change how you feel.

The following is an example of how taking a different view of a situation can go on to affect your feelings and then your actions.

	You have been invited to a party taking place this evening. This morning, you overhear someone saying some bad things about you to some of your friends.
	They must all think the same. No one likes me.		You can't win everyone over. Why would they invite me if they didn't like me?
	Low, rejected, angry.		Slightly hurt but self-assured.
	Avoid the party.		Attend the party.
	You are at home, watching tv.		You are at the party having a great time.
	I bet they're all having a good laugh behind my back.		I'm having a lot of fun with my friends, they obviously do like me so I can forget about what he said.
	Low, rejected, sad.		Great, confident, slightly relieved.

As a result of the irrational negative thought, a positive thing did not happen. This can develop into a "vicious circle" and the person may become gradually depressed as it continues.

When used to treat depression or anxiety, cognitive therapy tries to break this circle by challenging the distorted and irrational thoughts. To learn how to use cognitive behavioral therapy to treat depression, continue to "activate yourself". Welcome to CBT explained.