Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a type of therapy that has changed over time. It combines two important ideas: Cognitive Theory and Behavioral Theory.
A Look Back in Time
-
Behavioral Theory
- This idea started to grow in the early to mid-1900s.
- Important people in this theory were John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner.
- It mainly looked at behaviors we can see. It stressed how learning from experiences shapes what we do.
- For example, certain treatments can help people with phobias (fear of things) about 90% of the time!
-
Cognitive Theory
- This theory came about in the 1960s and 70s.
- It was started by Aaron T. Beck, who thought that what we think is really important.
- He believed that negative thoughts can cause us to feel bad.
- Research has shown that many people with mental health issues have mistaken or “distorted” thoughts. Changing these thoughts can help about 50-60% of the time.
Bringing It All Together in CBT
- In the 1970s, CBT was created by mixing ideas from both behavioral and cognitive theories. It looks at both how we think and how we act.
- Studies show that up to 75% of people using CBT see improvements, making it one of the best types of therapy out there!
Changes in Therapy Techniques
- CBT has changed even more to include mindfulness and new methods, like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
- Research suggests that using mindfulness with CBT can make treatments more effective. Some studies show improvement levels between 0.5 and 0.8.
By combining cognitive and behavioral theories, CBT has grown into a collection of powerful therapy techniques used to help people today.