Myths and Facts About Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular psychotherapy approach that helps you identify unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors when coping with life challenges or mental health issues. Even if you’ve never been to therapy yourself, you may have heard of it since it’s one of the most well-researched therapy methods. 

Unfortunately, there’s still plenty of misinformation surrounding it. Because CBT can be very helpful for those struggling with different mental health disorders, our team at The Modalities Group located in Bowie, Maryland, wants to correct some of the myths that you might still believe about CBT. 

Myth: CBT takes a one size fits all approach

Even though CBT relies heavily on technique and academic research, it by no means ignores the fact that every individual is different. CBT allows room for flexibility depending on what your needs are. By forming a relationship with your therapist, you both can decide what kinds of CBT methods are going to work best for you based on your unique goals. 

Myth: CBT is just about thinking positive

Because CBT so often relies on identifying and changing negative thinking patterns, it’s often thought that this therapy method requires you to only think positively about everything. However, this is not the case. While CBT does ask that you challenge the way you view the world, this method teaches you to have a perspective on life that’s realistic, not overly negative or positive.

CBT also offers ideas on how to have more flexible thinking and be more open to other ways of viewing the world and your problems.

Myth: CBT doesn’t take your past into account

Many other therapy approaches focus on your past and how it’s shaped you into the person you are today. However, CBT tries to prioritize what’s causing your mental health issues in the here and now. CBT does recognize that your past has had an impact on your thoughts and beliefs, so delving into your past can be helpful as needed.

Myth: CBT ignores emotions

Emotions are part of what makes us human, so ignoring emotions is pretty difficult to do. CBT wants to help you change the way you think which should change the way you feel as a result. If you’re able to change the way you think and then change the way you feel, it should start to change your behavior.

If you think that CBT is right for you and would like more information about it, contact our team online or over the phone today to learn more.