Psychotherapies National Institute of Mental Health NIMH

Mindfulness and meditation – Mindfulness is a state of mind where you learn to observe your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors cognitive behavioral therapy in a present, compassionate, and non-judgmental way. Depending on the dosage, in some people bupropion can actually worsen anxiety (as can other antidepressants). However, in others, it can help with generalized anxiety and anxiety symptoms that co-occur with depression.

how does cognitive behavioral therapy work

Young people’s mental health

  • Bring together everything you have learnt and see how to make caring for your mental health a habit.
  • For example, you may believe that your work colleagues don’t like you.
  • But evidence from his work on dreams and ideational material led Beck away from psychoanalysis.

Depression UK – Offers friendship, support and information for people with depression. British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies – Provides information on CBT and a list of accredited CBT therapists. Speak to your therapist if any of the tasks seem too hard or don’t seem to be helping. A good therapist will pace your sessions and work with you to decide what to do in your sessions, allowing you to be in control. Doing it yourself means you need motivation to do homework and finish the course. Self-help CBT is more likely to work if you also get support from a professional.

Cognitive Therapy

  • NIMH’s health topic pages list some of the evidence-based therapies used to treat specific disorders.
  • For instance, becoming an overly protective parent can be a behavior stemming from certain thoughts and feelings.
  • Speak to your therapist if any of the tasks seem too hard or don’t seem to be helping.
  • Another key approach is behavioral activation, especially useful for depression.

However, more research is needed to determine the efficacy of using CBT to treat negative symptoms, such as low motivation and social isolation. Research from 2020 and 2021 shows that both virtual and internet-based CBT holds promise for effective treatment. However, more research is needed to see how to best treat people virtually and if blended techniques could also be beneficial. Your mental well-being is just as important as your physical well-being. Cleveland Clinic’s mental health experts can help you live life to the fullest. Many studies show that CBT is as effective as, or more effective than, other forms of psychological therapy or psychiatric medications.

  • These therapies could be deeply insightful but were not always practical for people seeking faster relief from distress.
  • Your therapist will work with you to understand what you want out of treatment.
  • The meta-analyses included in the present review were all judged to be methodologically sound.

What are the types of anti-anxiety medications?

how does cognitive behavioral therapy work

We publish information to help people understand more about mental health and mental illness, and the kind of care they are entitled to. Go back to your doctor or the organisation providing your therapy to ask about alternatives. Our page on talking therapies can help you think about what approach might be right for you. This might include recent problems, reflections on the previous session or planning for future events you might find difficult. Your therapist might give you exercises to do to explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

how does cognitive behavioral therapy work

Therapists must evaluate patients on a case-by-case basis to determine if the person is a good candidate for CBT. Patients with mental health conditions related to chronic pain or illnesses, disabilities, or socially marginalized people may not benefit as much from CBT because their problems do not necessarily stem from negative thinking. Further, CBT was shown to be equally effective Twelve-step program as exercise interventions in treating cancer-related fatigue (Kangas, Bovbjerg, & Montgomery, 2008). Compared to pharmacological approaches, CBT and medication treatments had similar effects on chronic depressive symptoms, with effect sizes in the medium-large range (Vos, Haby, Barendregt, Kruijshaar, Corry, & Andrews, 2004).