Who Is a Good Candidate for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

What is cognitive behavioral therapy?

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a common type of psychotherapy; it is a combination of cognitive therapy, which focuses on moods and thoughts, and behavioral therapy, which focuses on actions and behaviors. It involves learning how to identify and change inaccurate or negative thoughts and behavioral patterns in order to respond to stressful situations in a more effective way.

CBT is an effective treatment for various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is beneficial for anyone learning to better manage stressful situations. CBT is also linked to reduced pain perception.

Who is a good candidate for cognitive behavioral therapy?

CBT is shown to be an effective treatment for certain mental health conditions, which include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Personality disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Eating disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Attention-deficit/hypersensitivity disorder (ADHD)
• Substance use disorder
• Phobias
• Depression

Certain non-psychological conditions have also been shown to react positively to CBT. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Migraines
• Fibromyalgia
• Other chronic pain conditions
• Insomnia
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)

CBT is also beneficial when adjusting to certain situations, such as the following:

• Divorce
• Grief
• Stress
• Relationship issues
• Work problems
• New life situations
• Medical conditions

The potential efficacy of CBT is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Those who have maladaptive coping mechanisms that greatly impact their mental health are typically good candidates for CBT. However, individuals who experience mental health issues due to racism, classism, ableism, etc. may not find relief with CBT.

Additional source: Psychology.org