Cognitive behavior therapy is a goal-oriented therapy based on two central ideas:
CBT is primarily focused on the “here and now” and on helping you with getting on with your life. Many people can make significant progress in overcoming problems in four to twelve sessions. Naturally, the amount of time involved depends on the nature of the problem and that person’s situation.
Therapy starts with a thorough assessment of the problem taking into account your current situation and relevant past events. The goal of therapy is to help you develop effective ways of coping that you can use independently in the future. In other words, you learn to help yourself cope effectively with life's challenges.
CBT has been developed over the last forty years and is the approach to treatment that has been most thoroughly evaluated scientifically and shown to be effective for a wide range of problems. Special training in CBT is required to be skilful in helping people achieve their therapy goals. There is good evidence that the gains achieved in therapy are maintained after completing treatment. Some people will benefit from booster (or tune up) sessions if they encounter difficulties in the months and years after completing treatment.
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