What is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is an Evidence-Based Treatment aimed at challenging automatic thoughts, beliefs, cognitive distortions, and behaviors that cause strife in our everyday life.

What are "automatic thoughts?"

Automatic thoughts are intrusive and invasive thoughts that we have on a daily basis. We do not ask for or consent to these thoughts, yet they arrive anyhow. These thoughts are often based on our beliefs with limited to no evidence backing them, and we form habits over time of following these thoughts to irrational conclusions about the world and ourselves. These thoughts shape our beliefs about ourselves and the world around us - and both beliefs and automatic thoughts reinforce each other, often times without our knowing.

What are "beliefs?"

Sounds like a dumb question, right? Well, bear with me! I will explain. Beliefs, or core beliefs, are what we "know" about ourselves and the world around us. "I am a terrible person..." "I am unlovable..." "Noone is trustworthy..." These beliefs shape how we act within the world and towards ourselves. At its core, that is what belief is - "acting as if something is true." If one believes the world is a completely unsafe place, one will act as if that is true - they will isolate and seek the comfort of safety. But what if beliefs were not built on evidence, but built on a lie our brain tells us?

What are "cognitive distortions?"

Now here is something we are all guilty of! Cognitive distortions are simply thinking errors - thoughts built not on evidence or critical thinking, but of assumptions! Ever not get a text back from a partner or friend and think - "oh no... I must have made them mad. They left me on read!" Yeap - that is Mind Reading! Ever think "If I fail this test, I will fail the course... then I will fail school..." That one is Catastrophizing! What about "I am not good if I am not perfect?" Yeap, All-or-Nothing Thinking!

What are "behaviors."

Sorry again for another easy one, but again, bear with me. Behaviors are simply what we do - but why? Most of the time, they are influenced by all the other headings you have read already. When we think things, when we believe things, we act in kind, which only serves to reinforce thoughts, attitudes and beliefs that cause us harm in the end. For example, If one thinks they are lost cause, and feels hopeless, they will act as if there is no hope.