What is CBT?
Reviewed By
Donna Bottomley - Psychotherapist, MBABCP accredited, 10+ years in CBT and EMDR
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective and widely used approaches for improving mental health. This mini course will give you a clear, simple introduction to how CBT works, why it’s so powerful, and how it can help with everyday challenges like stress, anxiety, or low mood.
References
Beck, A. T., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B. F., & Emery, G. (1979). "Cognitive Therapy of Depression." New York: Guilford Press. This is considered the foundational text that established CBT as we know it today, particularly for treating depression. Butler, A. C., Chapman, J. E., Forman, E. M., & Beck, A. T. (2006). "The empirical status of cognitive-behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses." Clinical Psychology Review, 26(1), 17-31. A comprehensive review that analyzed the effectiveness of CBT across various conditions. Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). "The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses." Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36(5), 427-440. This meta-analysis examined the evidence base for CBT across multiple disorders. Clark, D. M. (1986). "A cognitive approach to panic." Behaviour Research and Therapy, 24(4), 461-470. A seminal paper that helped establish CBT's effectiveness for anxiety and panic disorders. Dobson, K. S. (1989). "A meta-analysis of the efficacy of cognitive therapy for depression." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 57(3), 414-419. One of the earlier meta-analyses that helped establish CBT's effectiveness for depression. DeRubeis, R. J., Hollon, S. D., Amsterdam, J. D., Shelton, R. C., Young, P. R., Salomon, R. M., ... & Gallop, R. (2005). "Cognitive therapy vs medications in the treatment of moderate to severe depression." Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(4), 409-416. A landmark study comparing CBT to medication for depression treatment. Barlow, D. H., Allen, L. B., & Choate, M. L. (2004). "Toward a unified treatment for emotional disorders." Behavior Therapy, 35(2), 205-230. An influential paper that helped extend CBT principles across different types of emotional disorders.