What is CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a structured, evidence-based, usually short-term therapy built on the idea that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. By identifying and shifting unhelpful thinking patterns and changing behavior, CBT helps with anxiety, depression, OCD, and more. It's practical and skills-focused, often with exercises to practice between sessions.
How CBT works
You and your therapist examine the automatic thoughts and beliefs that drive distress, test how accurate and helpful they are, and practice more balanced thinking and new behaviors. Because it's structured and goal-oriented, CBT is often shorter-term, and the skills are designed to outlast treatment.
What CBT treats
CBT has strong evidence across anxiety, depression, OCD (as ERP), panic, insomnia, and more. Related approaches include DBT (for emotion regulation) and ACT. Many therapists integrate CBT with other methods based on your needs.
Common questions
What does CBT help with?
CBT is well-supported for anxiety, depression, OCD, panic, insomnia, and many other concerns. It's one of the most-studied and widely-used therapy approaches.
How long does CBT take?
CBT is often shorter-term than some therapies — frequently in the range of 8–20 sessions — though it varies with the concern and goals.
Find verified CBT therapists
0 license-verified CBT therapists have a provider-reported capacity status dated within 14 days. A recent report is not live calendar inventory and does not guarantee an opening, response, appointment, or fit.