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Disorders Treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Originally developed to treat depression, CBT is now used to address a wide range of mood disorders. Psychotherapists adjust the technique depending on the nature of an individual’s symptoms, incorporating everything from deep breathing to journaling. 

The following are some of the mental health disorders that can be addressed with CBT. If you are interested in pursuing CBT for one of these issues, contact us to consult with a mental health professional.

CBT and Depression

Decades after the first applications of CBT to treat depression, CBT continues to help many people affected by this mental health disorder. Analysis of CBT has consistently shown that it can be very effective in treating depressive disorders, in many cases as effective as medication. It can also help prevent individuals with depressive disorders from experiencing relapses. CBT can be effective in treating  bipolar disorder as well.

ADHD and CBT

Not every parent wants to start with medication when their child receives a diagnosis of ADHD. In these situations, CBT can serve as a viable starting point for treatment and help a family address the challenges associated with ADHD.

CBT and Anxiety

CBT can also be effective in addressing a range of anxiety issues, including panic attacks, GAD, and phobias. Some mental health professionals view CBT as the gold standard, when it comes to treating anxiety.

CBT for Trauma

Traumatic events can lead to PTSD, mood disorders, or extreme grief. CBT can help these individuals as well by helping them repattern their thinking around traumatic events, and it can be helpful in treating victims of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. Research so far in this field suggests that Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) may be the most effective intervention for individuals with disorders related to trauma.

Treating OCD with CBT

OCD, or  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is characterized by fixated and automatic thinking. As such, CBT is a natural fit for treating this disorder. Mental health professionals often combine CBT with exposure therapy to help those with OCD.

CBT and Insomnia

Many people lose countless hours of sleep due to obsessive thinking. For this reason, CBT can be a good option for those dealing with insomnia. While it is not an immediate solution for those with insomnia, it can help someone dealing with insomnia develop long-term tools to deal with disordered sleep. Sleep aids can help in the short term as patients learn to incorporate CBT techniques into their lives.

Common Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques

Cognitive behavioral therapy has evolved to include a number of different techniques. Each technique may be more or less effective with certain disorders and more or less transformative for each individual. The best approach is for individuals and their therapists to work together to see what techniques provide the most benefits to a situation. The following are just some of the techniques that an individual may learn in CBT:

Recognizing Distorted Thinking

Individuals need to learn to recognize their distorted thinking so that they can address it and neutralize it. Distorted thinking is thinking that serves as an outsized response to an event. For example, a person with distorted thinking might have a brief conflict with a stranger and then think that they are universally disliked by everyone they know. Therapists can help identify these thought patterns and develop coping mechanisms.

Being Kind to Yourself

When you begin to recognize negative thinking, you begin practicing better self-care. In CBT, individuals can learn to treat themselves as kindly as they would treat a friend or stranger.

Journaling

A good way to combat negative thinking is to write down positive thoughts. Maintaining a journal or daily log of positive self-talk and ideas can be an effective way to do this.

Exposure Therapy

Patients with anxieties or phobias often benefit from slow and systematic exposure to their triggers. This process focuses on showing them that their fears are irrational and not based on reality. This technique requires the careful help and guidance of a mental health professional.

Practicing Gratitude

Just as writing down positive thoughts fights back against negative ones, practicing gratitude can help individuals maintain a more positive outlook on the world. For example, an individual might make it a habit to note things that they are grateful for throughout the day or acknowledge positive things every time they enter a new space.

LifeStance Health specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with multiple locations in 33 states. Services vary by location.

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Citations:

Dunlop, B. W., LoParo, D., Kinkead, B., Mletzko-Crowe, T., Cole, S. P., Nemeroff, C. B., … Craighead, W. E. (2019). Benefits of Sequentially Adding Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy or Antidepressant Medication for Adults With Nonremitting Depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 176(4), 275–286. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18091075

Jensen, T. K., Holt, T., Ormhaug, S. M., Egeland, K., Granly, L., Hoaas, L. C., … Wentzel-Larsen, T. (2013). A Randomized Effectiveness Study Comparing Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With Therapy as Usual for Youth. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 43(3), 356–369. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2013.822307