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Five Benefits of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
By: Maurice Prout
Five Benefits of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Widener University psychology professor Maurice Prout leads the university’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology with more than two decades of experience in his field. Maurice Prout’s clinical interests also include treatments and interventions for anxiety and mood disorders. Among the approaches cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Regarded by many psychologists as one of the most effective forms of therapy, CBT offers several benefits.
Five Benefits of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
1. Flexibility of use. The application of CBT is extensive, and therapists use it to treat a wide range of conditions and disorders. An analysis performed by the Journal of Cognitive Therapy and Research in 2012 concluded that therapists use CBT to successfully treat patients with disorders including substance abuse and bulimia, as well as in anger management.
Five Benefits of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
2. Builds self-esteem. Part of CBT’s focus involves breaking down destructive and intrusive thought patterns that contribute to negative cycles. Clients learn coping strategies and skills to help overcome their problem or condition. In the process, therapists help clients build confidence and increase their self-esteem.
Five Benefits of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
3. Establishes support network. A healthy therapist-client relationship serves as the heart of CBT treatment, as the approach calls for therapists and clients to collaborate toward realistic and achievable goals. A reliable therapist can help clients begin to establish a support network as they work through their problem or disorder.
Five Benefits of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
4. External focus. CBT sessions use a structured approach that focuses on teaching skills that help clients reach long-term results. Sessions go beyond helping a client feel better by setting goals and developing solutions and strategies to achieve those goals.
Five Benefits of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
5. No reliance on medication. CBT’s approach relies on face-to-face treatment between therapist and client, and does not require the client to begin a medication regimen. By extension, the treatment avoids the risk of the side effects associated with medication.
