Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive-behavioural therapy is based on the idea that it is our thoughts
that influence our feelings and influence our behaviour, not external things, like people, situations, and events. The benefit of this fact is that we can change the way we think to feel / act differently even if the situation does not change.
Cognitive-behavioural therapists seek to learn what their clients want out of life and to set their goals and then help their clients achieve those goals. The therapist's role is to listen, teach, and encourage, while the client's role is to express concerns, learn, and implement that learning.
Cognitive-behavioural therapists want to gain a very good understanding of their clients' concerns. That's why they often ask questions. They also
encourage their clients to ask questions of themselves, like, "How do I
really know that those people are talking about me?" "Could they be talking about something else?"
Cognitive-behavioural therapists have a specific agenda for each session.
Specific techniques / concepts are taught during each session. CBT
focuses on the client's goals. We do not tell our clients what their goals
"should" be, or what they "should" tolerate. CBT can be directive in the sense that we show our clients how to think and behave to enable them to obtain what they want and to reach their goals. Therefore, CBT therapists do not tell their clients what to do, instead they teach their clients and model how to do.
CBT therapists encourage their clients to practice the techniques learned in sessions, outside of the therapy room.