cognitive behavioral therapy

noun

variants or less commonly cognitive behavior therapy

: psychotherapy that combines cognitive therapy with behavior therapy by identifying faulty or maladaptive patterns of thinking, emotional response, or behavior and substituting them with desirable patterns of thinking, emotional response, or behavior

—abbreviation CBT

Note: Cognitive behavioral therapy is used in the treatment of various mental and emotional disorders including depression, anxiety, anorexia, and substance abuse. Cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are often used interchangeably.

Cognitive behavioral therapy prods patients to do things that will make them feel a sense of accomplishment and connection, and to avoid interpreting situations as being worse than they are.

—David H. Freedman

The most scientifically studied technique, cognitive behavior therapy, teaches people to identify and dispute self-degrading thoughts … that can feed on themselves and cause people to sink into despair.

—Benedict Carey

Examples of cognitive behavioral therapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For patients experiencing phobias and other mental health conditions, therapists may opt for both cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. —The Courier-Journal, 27 Mar. 2024

Additional therapies including art therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy will be available soon. —Jessica Van Egeren, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024

Much better than medications so far is a kind of talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia or CBT-I, Martin said. —Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024

Researchers working on the study theorized that the lack of efficacy could have been due to the cognitive behavioral therapy offered to both groups. —Grace Browne, WIRED, 2 Dec. 2023

Mindfulness practice, cognitive behavioral therapy, and breaking down tasks into manageable steps might help shift your mindset. —Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 8 Mar. 2024

Most Popular TikTok Says a Foot Bath Can Help Ease Migraine Attacks—Here’s What Doctors Think There are tons of ways to reframe thoughts—that’s a huge part of cognitive behavioral therapy—but a good place to start is fact-checking yourself. —Anna Borges, SELF, 13 Feb. 2024

There are several useful methods to treat the condition, including fixing your sleep hygiene and engaging in cognitive behavioral therapy specifically for insomnia. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024

It is generally recommended in conjunction with medical treatment or another form of therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy. —Delaney Nothaft, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

cognitive behavioral therapy

noun

variants also cognitive behavior therapy

: psychotherapy that combines cognitive therapy with behavior therapy by identifying faulty or maladaptive patterns of thinking, emotional response, or behavior and substituting them with desirable patterns of thinking, emotional response, or behavior

—abbreviation CBT

Note: Cognitive behavioral therapy is used in the treatment of various mental and emotional disorders including depression, anxiety, anorexia, and substance abuse. Cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are often used interchangeably.

Cognitive behavioral therapy prods patients to do things that will make them feel a sense of accomplishment and connection, and to avoid interpreting situations as being worse than they are.

—David H. Freedman, Discover

The most scientifically studied technique, cognitive behavior therapy, teaches people to identify and dispute self-degrading thoughts … that can feed on themselves and cause people to sink into despair.

—Benedict Carey, The New York Times