What is CBT Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an umbrella term for a variety of therapeutic approaches that focus on how our thinking and behaviour affect the way we feel. It is a tool that involves learning and developing psychological flexibility rather than focusing on the attitude of fighting and submitting. In that way, CBT allows a person to make better choices in the face of challenging situations and therefore promotes personal growth and quality of living.
CBT started with the stoics 2000 years ago, and Epictetus was known to say “Men are disturbed, not by things, but by the view which they take of them”. An example of that approach would be, if we try to force our ideas, thoughts, behaviours to others, under the attitude of “You absolutely shouldn’t speak to me in that way!”, then there will be a higher chance that I might feel anger, hurt and possibly guilt. However, if we focus on psychological flexibility, which means taking another perspective on that view, we have a higher chance of feeling annoyed and disappointed that our wishes were not met, and that would be enough to create the space for resolving conflict rather than prolonging it.
CBT evolved significantly since it started. We can now use other integrative approaches – third wave therapies – combined with CBT that allows the use of other tools that might be useful at times when facing the challenges of living. Such tools are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Compassion Focus Therapy (CFT) to name a few. These therapies help us reinforcing the psychological flexibility which means taking a different perspective on our mindsets and behaviours allowing ourselves to reduce our emotional disturbances.