Important Facts On Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

By Thomas Graham


Psychotherapy is an important aspect of treatment for many diseases whether physical or psychiatric. Cognitive behavioral therapy (or CBT) is one of the most widely practiced forms of psychotherapy in New Jersey. It entails talking to a therapist in a structured manner over several sessions with the aim of gaining an insight regarding a certain illness and formulating solutions on how one can cope with it. The conditions managed using CBT include depression, eating disorders, and anxiety disorders.

Sessions may be held once a week or one every fortnight. One session typically lasts between 30 minutes and an hour. The total number of sessions required in a particular case is determined by a number of factors that include the nature and severity of illness and the client response to treatment. Generally, five to twenty sessions are needed. The therapist will help you divide your problems into three categories that include thoughts, feelings and actions.

The success of this therapy is determined, to a large extent, by the existence of a healthy partnership between the client and the therapist. Clients who are actively involved in making decisions regarding their illness tend to have better outcomes than those that are not. The two should strive to find common ground for most of the major issues relating the condition or illness. Treatment options should be a product of consultations between the two.

The results of CBT are not instant. A lot of patience and hard work are required before any meaningful change is seen. A significant number of clients may experience worsening symptoms as they attempt to confront their illness. This should by no means discourage them from sticking to the treatment plan. Sharing these struggles with their psychotherapist may help create solutions on how to deal with them.

CBT is effective for conditions that affect individual clients as well as groups. Couples and family therapy are examples of treatments that have greatly benefited from the therapy. Other forms of groups may similarly benefit as long as they have similar problems. One of the main advantages of offering the therapy to a group is the fact that group members tend to share their experiences and coping skills.

The client should be honest and as open as possible if they are to benefit from this treatment. They need to freely share their thoughts, experiences and emotions with their therapist to make it possible for solutions to be formulated. In case one feels that sharing some information is embarrassing or is likely to result into emotional pain they should let the therapist know. The therapist is obliged to maintain client confidentiality (except in very rare circumstances).

Even after successful therapy, symptoms may recur. Re-enrolling for CBT sessions and practicing the skills that have been acquired in the past are helpful if such is the case. Other forms of treatment may also be incorporated into the treatment plan to optimize on the results that are obtained through CBT. Such include the use of medications and other forms of talk treatments.

When you decide to seek the help of a CBT specialist, do your research to ensure that your chosen therapist is qualified. They should have the right education and licensing. Find out whether you can meet the costs involved to avoid dropping out before the treatment has been completed.




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