Cool facts about Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is an evidence-based treatment for anxiety and depression (and other disorders as well) in children, adolescents and adults.

Here are some cool facts about it:

  1. Only 15% of mental health professionals have learned TRUE CBT (which includes exposure-therapy)–ONLY 12% practice!
  2. CBT has effectiveness rates of 60-90%. The more invested in treatment you are, the more your success rates increase!
  3. CBT is geared to be short term (3-6 months)
  4. CBT is skills-based; you learn the tools to handle/ cope with anxiety and depression on your own….
  5. CBT can be fun! While learning a lot about yourself, you will also have some fun pushing your limits and increasing the belief that you can handle anything that comes your way!
  6. CBT has better short-term AND long-term effectiveness rates compared to medication alone! Meds stop working once you stop taking them, but CBT can last a lifetime!
  7. Proper CBT is NOT “manualized.” It is flexible and designed for your individual needs.
  8. Ask your therapist what type of treatment they give you and WHY. Remember you have a voice in your treatment, it’s not just up to your therapist!
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Author:

I am a clinical psychologist with approximately 15 years of experience assessing and treating anxiety and depressive disorders in young children, adolescents, young adults, adults and geriatric populations. I completed a 6-year predoctoral training award at the National Institute of Mental Health, and postdoctoral training at the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital. From my clinical and research experiences, I have come to see the struggles of many families deciding when to pursue professional help and feeling very lost in the process. I will address several mental health issues that will help educate and empower my readers to make better mental health decisions for themselves. Welcome to my blog! Johanna Kaplan, Ph.D. Disclaimer-This blog is not and cannot be used in replace of formal therapy. This blog is used to inform and educate and is not a form of informal or formal advice.

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