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

One of the most powerful tools from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is learning to evaluate your thoughts instead of accepting them at face value. —Chamin Ajjan, CNBC, 12 July 2025

Therapies can relieve certain underlying issues triggering sleep paralysis, including cognitive behavioral therapy, especially the version for people with insomnia. —Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 8 June 2025

The study also suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), often considered the gold standard in mental health treatment, isn’t enough to treat anxiety in pregnancy alone. —Hannah Silverman, Parents, 2 May 2025

Safer sleep alternatives Patients suffering from insomnia and other sleep issues should try making lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapy before being placed on lorazepam, Rohrscheib advised. —Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cognitive behavioral therapy

• brachytherapy
• chemotherapy
• cryotherapy
• hydrotherapy
• hypnotherapy
• monotherapy
• phototherapy
• psychotherapy
• sclerotherapy
• immunotherapy
• pharmacotherapy
• physiotherapy

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