Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has become the dominant therapeutic modality in the United States and much of the Western world. Developed in the 1960s by Aaron Beck, CBT emerged as a reaction against psychoanalysis—positioning itself as a more “scientific” and “evidence-based” approach to psychotherapy. Beck’s original insight was that depression was not just an emotional state but was linked to “negative automatic thoughts” that could be identified and modified (Beck, 1964).

Rise to Dominance

CBT’s rise to dominance was accelerated by several factors:

• Its brief, manualized format made it ideal for insurance reimbursement
• Its claim to “evidence-based” status appealed to medical and bureaucratic systems
• Its symptom-focused approach promised measurable outcomes

Today, CBT is the most commonly practiced form of psychotherapy in the United States and is the default treatment in many mental health settings, from hospitals and clinics to employee assistance programs and schools.

Fundamental Premise

The fundamental premise of CBT is that thoughts cause feelings and behaviors, and that by identifying and modifying “distorted” thoughts, therapists can change clients’ emotional responses. This model assumes that clients’ thinking is frequently irrational and that therapists, trained in cognitive techniques, can identify and correct these distortions.

See Also

• Cognitive Distortions

References

Beck, A. T. (1964). Thinking and depression: I. Idiosyncratic content and cognitive distortions. Archives of General Psychiatry, 9(4), 324-333. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1963.01720160014002