What is Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)?

CBT is a psychological treatment based on scientific research. It has been proven to be effective in treating many psychological disorders.  CBT is a short-term therapy (usually between 6 months to one year) that focuses on teaching clients specific skills. CBT focuses on the ways that a person's cognitions (i.e., thoughts), emotions, and behaviors are connected and affect one another.  Clients learn cognitive behavioral and mindfulness skills to better identify and manage their emotions, including anxiety and depression. They practice applying those skills to improve their ability to tolerate life events and interact effectively with others.

What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an empirically based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with commitment and behavior change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility. Clients learn how to make healthy contact with thoughts, feelings, memories, and physical sensations that have been feared and avoided. Clients gain skills to experience these private events, develop greater clarity about personal values, and commit to needed behavior change.

What should clients expect in therapy?

  • The therapist and client work together with a mutual understanding that the therapist has theoretical and technical expertise, but the client is the expert on him- or herself.

  • The therapist seeks to help the client discover that he/she is powerful and capable of choosing positive thoughts and behaviors.

  • Clients actively participate in treatment in and out of session. Homework assignments often are included in therapy. The skills that are taught require practice.

  • Treatment is goal-oriented to resolve present-day problems. Therapy involves working step-by-step to achieve goals.

  • The therapist and client develop goals for therapy together, and track progress toward goals throughout the course of treatment.

 

Self-Help Resources:

Recommended Readings:

  • Quiet Your Mind and Get to Sleep: Solutions to Insomnia for Those with Depression, Anxiety, or Chronic Pain by Colleen Carney and Rachel Manber. Published by New Harbinger

  • Don't Panic: Taking Control of Anxiety Attacks by R.Reid Wilson. Published by Harper Perennial

  • Overcoming Binge Eating by Christopher Fairburn. Published by Guilford

  • Mastery of Your Anxiety and Worry: A Workbook by Michelle Craske and David Barlow. Published by Oxford.

  • Mastering Your Adult ADHD: A Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Program: Client Workbook by Steven Safren et al. Published by Oxford.

  • Cognitive-Behavioral Stress Management: Client Workbook by Michael Antoni et al. Published by Oxford

  • The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook by Davis et al. Published by New Harbinger

  • Mind Over Mood by Dennis Greenberger and Christine Padesky. Published by Guilford

  • The Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work by John Gottman. Published by Harmony

 

Websites about Therapy and Diagnosis:

Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies www.abct.org

Anxiety and Depression Association of America www.ADAA.org