How does cognitive behavioral therapy work?

We may have a thought. You know, my my entire job is on the line. People aren’t going to like it. I’m going to do a terrible job. Not surprising that with that soundtrack, you’re going to feel very anxious in that situation. Cognitive behavior therapy is a very effective approach to many different conditions. Anxiety, depression, self esteem, eating disorders, any any number of psychiatric challenges. And really at the core is this idea that what affects us, what makes us feel sad or anxious or depressed, is not so much the events around us, but the story that we’re telling ourselves about the events we may. See a situation like. Giving a presentation, we may have a thought. You know, my my entire job is on the line. People aren’t going to like it. I’m going to do a terrible job. Not surprising that with that soundtrack, you’re going to feel very anxious in that situation. But you do have choices, and cognitive behavior therapy is really about teaching people to not go with their first reaction and think about another angle, a more realistic angle on the situation, and really cultivating that habit. Once you think of your options and not and don’t just go with your first thought. What you’ll find is that those more realistic interpretations really come to you. You won’t have to work so hard to find them. The second step though of cognitive behavior therapy is really action oriented. So it may be that you’re going to practice giving speeches in a in a small group to your therapist or to your family and then build up from there. Or if you have a phobia about ordering in a restaurant or. Making phone calls, you’re going to practice that and go with gradually greater and greater degrees of difficulty. People can tell you that you’re going to do fine in a situation, but what will prove that to you the most is when you see yourself doing that. So cognitive behavior therapy really provides patients with the opportunity to see how they’re able to manage a situation competently and without anxiety.