What it means
A structured, short-term form of psychotherapy. It works on the link between thoughts, feelings and behavior: the person learns to spot automatic negative thoughts, test them against the facts and replace them with more balanced ones, and to practice new behaviors. It is used for depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorderob-SES-iv kum-PUL-siv dis-OR-derA mental health condition with unwanted thoughts that keep coming back and actions a person feels driven to repeat.Full entry , post-traumatic stress disorderpohst-truh-MAT-ik STRES dis-OR-derA mental health condition that develops after a person lives through or sees a terrifying event.Full entry , insomnia, eating disorders and chronic pain. Clients often get homework between sessions.
For the nurse
Support the skills the client is learning: encourage them to write down thoughts and do the homework, and point out when a thought is all-or-nothing. A nurse may use simple CBT methods, such as helping a client reframe a thought, within the plan of care.
In a chart
"Client attends weekly CBT for panic disorder and keeps a thought diary."
At a glance
| Abbreviations | CBT |
|---|---|
| Spanish | terapia cognitivo-conductual |
| Also written | cognitive-behavioral therapy, CBT, cognitive behavioral therapies |
Related terms
defense mechanism
An unconscious mental process that protects a person from anxiety or painful feelings.
cognitive
Having to do with thinking: knowing, remembering, understanding, judging and solving problems.
coping mechanism
A thought or action a person uses, on purpose or by habit, to handle stress or difficult feelings.