CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

What CBT is

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, time-limited form of talk therapy developed in the 1960s by Aaron Beck. It works on the premise that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected — and that changing one can change the others.

What CBT looks like in practice

Most CBT runs 12-20 weekly sessions of about 50 minutes each. In session, you and the clinician identify a specific concern (anxiety, depression, panic, insomnia, OCD), map out the thoughts driving the problem, test whether those thoughts are accurate, and try new behaviors between sessions. CBT involves "homework" — small experiments and worksheets between sessions.

What CBT treats well

CBT is the most-researched form of psychotherapy and the first-line evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, insomnia, and specific phobias. It works well combined with medication for moderate-to-severe depression and is effective on its own for mild-to-moderate symptoms.