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Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) refers to a psychological intervention proven effective for several issues comprising depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, relationship conflicts, eating disorders, and severe mental illnesses. While commonly applied for anxiety and depression, it can also benefit other mental and physical health challenges.

How CBT works

  • CBT operates on the concept that thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviours are interconnected, and negative thoughts and emotions can ensnare individuals in detrimental cycles.
  • CBT aims to aid in dealing with overwhelming issues more positively by breaking them down into smaller pieces.
  • Individuals are shown how to alter these negative patterns to improve their feelings.
  • Unlike few other talking treatments, CBT deals with an individual's current problems rather than focusing on issues from the past.
  • It looks for practical ways to enhance state of mind on a daily basis.

Uses for CBT

CBT has been depicted to be an effective way of treating several distinct mental health conditions.

Furthermore, to depression or anxiety disorders, CBT can also aid individuals with:

  • bipolar disorder
  • borderline personality disorder
  • eating disorders – for instance, anorexia and bulimia
  • obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • panic disorder.
  • phobias
  • post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • psychosis
  • schizophrenia
  • sleep problems – like insomnia.
  • issues related to alcohol misuse.

CBT is also sometimes utilised to treat individuals suffering from long-term health conditions, like:

  • irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
  • fibromyalgia
  • chronic pain

Although CBT cannot cure the physical manifestations of these conditions, it can aid individuals cope better with their manifestations.

What happens during CBT sessions?

  • When CBT is advised, individuals typically attend therapy sessions either weekly or once every two weeks.
  • The treatment course usually lasts for between 6 and 20 sessions, with each session lasting half an hour to 60 minutes.
  • During the sessions, the individual will work with a therapist to break down problems into separate parts, such as thoughts, physical feelings, and actions.
  • Individuals and their therapists will analyse these areas to determine if they're unrealistic or unhelpful and to determine the effect they have on each other and on the individuals.
  • An individual's therapist can then help him/her work out how to alter unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.
  • After working out what an individual can change, their therapist will ask them to practise these changes in your daily lives and you'll discuss how you got on during the next session.
  • The ultimate aim of therapy is to teach him/her to apply the prowess he/she has learned during treatment to daily life.
  • This should aid individuals in managing problems and stopping them from having a negative impact on life, even after post-course treatment finishes.

Pros and cons of CBT

While cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can effectively address certain mental health issues, it may not yield success or be suitable for everyone.

Some of the perks of CBT comprise:

  • It can be completed in a relatively short duration compared with other talking therapies.
  • The highly structured CBT nature means it can be offered in distinct formats, comprising in groups, self-help books and online.
  • It teaches individuals useful and practical strategies that can be utilised in everyday life, even post the treatment has completed.
  • It focuses on the individual's capacity to change themselves (their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours).
  • In certain instances, it can match the effectiveness of medication in addressing mental health issues and may prove beneficial when medication alone has proven ineffective.

Some of the pitfalls of CBT to consider comprise:

  • Individuals need to commit themselves to the process to get the most from it – a therapist can aid and advise them, but they need therapist's cooperation.
  • Attending regular CBT sessions as well as carrying out any additional work between sessions can take up a lot of individual time.
  • It may not be apt for individuals with more complicated mental health requirements or learning difficulties.
  • It involves confronting emotions and anxieties – he/she may experience initial periods where they're anxious or emotionally uncomfortable.
  • It does not address any wider issues in systems or families that may significantly impact someone's health and well-being.

Myths vs Facts - CBT

There are some misconceptions about CBT and how it works. Below are some myths and facts about CBT:

Myths

Facts

CBT is only about positive thinking

Learning more helpful, realistic ways of thinking can have a positive impact on how individuals live their life.

CBT does not deal with the ‘actual’ problem

Life will always have problems or challenges, and few of them will be out of our control. CBT can give individuals the tools to deal with problems more effectively.

CBT is prompt and easy to do

Individual needs time and practice to alter old habits, but once individual learn them, they can stay with individual for a long time.

Looking forward: Integration of AI in CBT

AI-driven tools such as chatbots offer viable, engaging, and successful channels for delivering CBT, effectively reducing depression and anxiety. However, for a deeper comprehension of how AI-generated content could enhance CBT, researchers should prioritize investigating the level of trust or confidence individuals undergoing treatment can place in information sourced from AI platforms. If AI-generated information garners equivalent trust as traditional guidance from psychologists, it could open up new avenues for designing CBT programs.

In summary, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) refers to a flexible and potent method for tackling numerous mental health issues, equipping individuals with pragmatic techniques to regulate their thoughts, emotions, and actions. Its structured approach permits relatively short treatment periods and empowers individuals to apply learned prowess in their everyday lives even after therapy concludes. However, CBT may not suit everyone, and its effectiveness can be impacted by factors like commitment, the complexity of mental health requirements, and the absence of addressing broader systemic issues. Looking ahead, the integration of AI in CBT presents promising opportunities to enhance accessibility and effectiveness, mainly through innovative platforms such as chatbots. However, further research is required to understand individuals' trust and confidence in AI-derived information within the therapeutic context. As CBT continues to evolve, embracing technological innovations while focusing on individual requirements and therapeutic efficacy will be significant for its continued success in enhancing mental wellbeing.

 

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