What Is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

This accessible information handout describes the key principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

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Professional version

Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.

Client version

Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.

Overview

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based talking therapy used to address a wide range of difficulties. Central to CBT is the idea that our cognitions, emotional responses and behavior are all interlinked - a change in one affects all of the others. CBT proposes that our actions can inadvertently maintain and exacerbate psychological problems. This What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)? information handout is designed to introduce clients to CBT. It provides an overview of key concepts, therapeutic tasks, and examples of conditions where CBT has been shown to be effective.

Why Use This Resource?

This handout provides an accessible yet comprehensive explanation of CBT. Therapists can use to:

  • Introduce clients to key ideas in CBT.
  • Support treatment selection, informed consent, and goal-setting at the start of therapy.
  • Reinforce clients’ understanding of CBT principles throughout treatment.
  • Communicate the rationale for core therapeutic tasks.

Key Benefits

Clear

Presents key CBT principles using client-friendly language and illustrations.

Informative

Explains what CBT involves and the problems it can help address.

Versatile

Suitable for a wide range of clients.

Engaging

Encourages collaboration and increased motivation for treatment.

Integrating it into your practice

01

Introduce

Start a conversation about the potential benefits of CBT.

02

Explore

Use the information handout to explore the key ideas in CBT.

03

Reflect

Help clients reflect on how CBT might be helpful to them.

04

Reinforce

Use the handout to consolidate client learning between sessions.

Theoretical Background & Therapist Guidance

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based talking therapy that is used to treat a wide variety of difficulties (Hoffman et al., 2012). As the name suggests, it combines cognitive therapy and behavior therapy. Behavior therapy originated in the 1950s and focused on how learning theory could be used to promote behavior change (e.g., Wolpe, 1958). In the 1960s, cognitive therapists such as Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis extended behavioral analysis by considering how thought processes contributed to mental health difficulties, leading to the emergence of CBT (Johnstone & Dallos, 2014; Rachman, 1997). Beck is credited with developing cognitive therapy, a major component of CBT (Beck, 1967; 1976), and Ellis with the creation of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT; Ellis, 1962; 1996). Other important figures in the development of CBT include George Kelly, Micheal Mahoney, Richard Lazarus, and Donald Michenbaum (Beck, 2011; Dobson & Dozois, 2010).

CBT proposes that cognitions influence (and are influenced by) people’s emotional responses and behavior (the cognitive model). It also observes that behavior can maintain and exacerbate problematic psychological states. Accordingly, the primary aim of CBT is to help individuals identify and address patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to their difficulties.

What's inside

  • A clear and accessible information handout explaining CBT.
  • A comprehensive introduction to CBT written for therapists.
  • Guidance for using the resource with clients.
  • Key references and recommended further reading.
Get access to this resource

FAQs

CBT is a type of talking therapy that helps clients understand and change patterns of thinking and behaviour that contribute to their difficulties.
It focuses on the interplay between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. By changing one part of the system, clients often experience improvement in the others.
CBT is an evidence-based treatment for a range of conditions outlined on the handout, but it may not be suitable for all individuals.

How This Resource Improves Clinical Outcomes

Using this resource can help clients:

  • Learn about CBT and what to expect from it.
  • Answer the questions they might about this therapy.
  • Make an informed decision about taking up CBT. 
  • Feel confident and motivated about starting CBT.

References And Further Reading

  • Andersson, G., & Cuijpers, P. (2009). ‘Psychological treatment’ as an umbrella term for evidence-based psychotherapies? Nordic Psychology, 6, 4–15. DOI: 10.1027/1901-2276.61.2.4.
  • Barber, J. P., & DeRubeis, R. J. (1989). On second thought: Where the action is in cognitive therapy for depression. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 13, 441-457. DOI: 10.1007/BF01173905.
  • Barlow, D. H. (2004). Psychological treatments. American Psychologist, 59, 869–878.
  • Barlow, D. H. (2006). Psychotherapy and psychological treatments: The future. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 13, 216-220.
  • Beck, A. T. (1967). Depression: Causes and treatment. University of Pennsylvania Press.
  • Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. International Universities Press.
  • Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
  • Crits-Christoph, P., Gibbons, M. B. C., Temes, C. M., Elkin, I., & Gallop, R. (2010). Interpersonal accuracy of interventions and the outcome of cognitive and interpersonal therapies for depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78, 420-428. DOI: 10.1037/a0019549.
  • Cuijpers, P., Reijnders, M., & Huibers, M. J. (2019). The role of common factors in psychotherapy outcomes. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 15, 207-231. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050718-095424.
  • Cuijpers, P., Miguel, C., Ciharova, M., Harrer, M., Basic, D., Cristea, I. A., ... & Karyotaki, E. (2024). Absolute and relative outcomes of psychotherapies for eight mental disorders: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. World Psychiatry, 23, 267-275. DOI: 10.1002/wps.21203.
  • Davidson, K., Norrie, J., Tyrer, P., Gumley, A., Tata, P., Murray, H., & Palmer, S. (2006). The effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder: Results from the borderline personality disorder study of cognitive therapy (BOSCOT) trial. Journal of Personality Disorders, 20, 450-465. DOI: 10.1521/pedi.2006.20.5.450.
  • Dobson, K. S., & Dozois, D. J. A. (2010). Historical and philosophical bases of the cognitive-behavioral therapies. In K. S. Dobson (Ed.), Handbook of cognitive-behavorial therapies (pp.3-38). Guilford Press.
  • Ellis, A. (1962). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. Citadel.
  • Ellis, A. (1996). Better, deeper, and more enduring brief therapy: The rational emotive behavior therapy approach. Brunner/Mazel.
  • Fairburn, C. G. (2008). Cognitive behavior therapy and eating disorders. Guilford Press.
  • Hawton, K., Salkovskis, P. M., Kirk, J., & Clark, P. M. (1989). The development and principles of cognitive-behavioural treatments. In K. Hawton, P. M. Salkovskis, J. Kirk, & D. M. Clark (Eds.), Cognitive behaviour therapy for psychiatric problems: A practical guide (pp.1-12). Oxford University Press.
  • Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36, 427-440. DOI: 10.1007/s10608-013-9595-3.
  • Johnstone, L., & Dallos, R. (2014). Introduction to formulation. In L. Johnstone & Rudi Dallos (Eds.), Formulation in psychology and psychotherapy (pp.1-17). Routledge.  
    Kennerley, H., Kirk, J., & Westbrook, D. (2017). An introduction to cognitive behaviour therapy (3rd ed.). Sage.
  • Lambert, M. J. & Ogles, B. M. (2004). The efficacy and effectiveness of psychotherapy. In M. J. Lambert (Ed.) Bergin and Garfield’s handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change (pp. 139–93). Wiley.
  • Leichsenring, F., Salzer, S., Beutel, M. E., Herpertz, S., Hiller, W., Hoyer, J., ... & Leibing, E. (2013). Psychodynamic therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy in social anxiety disorder: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Psychiatry, 170, 759-767. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.12081125.
  • Mennin, D. S., Ellard, K. K., Fresco, D. M., & Gross, J. J. (2013). United we stand: Emphasizing commonalities across cognitive-behavioral therapies. Behavior Therapy, 44, 234-248. DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2013.02.004.
  • Newman, M. G., Agras, W. S., Haaga, D. A. F., & Jarrett, R. B. (2021). Cognitive, behavioral, and cognitive behavioral therapy. In M. Barkham, W. Lutz, & L. G. Castonguay (Eds.), Bergin and Garfield’s handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change (pp.469-505). John Wiley and Sons.
  • Öst, L.-G., Svensson, L., Hellström, K., & Lindwall, R. (2001). One-session treatment of specific phobias in youths: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 69, 814–824. DOI: 10.1037/0022-006X.69.5.814.
  • Poulsen, S., Lunn, S., Daniel, S. I., Folke, S., Mathiesen, B. B., Katznelson, H., & Fairburn, C. G. (2014). A randomized controlled trial of psychoanalytic psychotherapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy for bulimia nervosa. American Journal of Psychiatry, 171, 109-116. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.12121511.
  • Rachman, S. (1997). The evolution of cognitive behaviour therapy. In D. M. Clark & C. G. Fairburn (Eds.), Science and practice of cognitive behaviour therapy (pp.3-26). Oxford University Press.
  • Roth, A., & Fonagy, P. (2005). What works for whom? A critical review of psychotherapy research (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
  • Strupp, H. H. (1978). Psychotherapy research and practice – an overview. In A. E. Bergin & S. L. Garfield (Eds.), Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change (2nd ed.) (pp.3-22). Wiley.
  • Tolin, D. F. (2016). Doing CBT: A comprehensive guide to working with behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. Guilford Press.
  • Tschacher, W., Junghan, U. M., & Pfammatter, M. (2014). Towards a taxonomy of common factors in psychotherapy - results of an expert survey. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 21, 82-96. DOI: 10.1002/cpp.1822.
  • Wampold, B. E., & Imel, Z. E. (2015). The great psychotherapy debate (2nd ed.). Routledge.
  • Wampold, B. E., Mondin, G. W., Moody, M., Stich, F., Benson, K., & Ahn, H. (1997). A metaanalysis of outcome studies comparing bona fide psychotherapies: Empirically, ‘all must have prizes.’ Psychological Bulletin, 122, 203-215. DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.122.3.203.
  • Wolitzky-Taylor, K. B., Horowitz, J. D., Powers, M. B., & Telch, M. J. (2008). Psychological approaches in the treatment of specific phobias: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 28, 1021-1037. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2008.02.007.
  • Wolpe, J. (1959). Psychotherapy by reciprocal inhibition. Stanford University Press.
  • Zarbo, C., Tasca, G. A., Cattaf, F., & Compare, A. (2016). Integrative psychotherapy works. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 2021. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02021.

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