How does cognitive behavioral therapy work?
Cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective way for patients to realize their true potential. In this video, Dr. Tamar Chansky, who specializes in anxiety, describes what a person can expect from this therapy.
Transcript
You may have a thought, you know, my entire job is on the line. People aren't going to like it. I'm gonna do a terrible job.
Not surprising, that with that soundtrack, you're gonna feel very anxious in that situation. [MUSIC PLAYING]
Cognitive behavior therapy is a very effective approach many different conditions-- anxiety, depression,
self-esteem, eating disorders, any number of psychiatric challenges.
And really, at the core is this idea that what affects us, what makes us feel
sad or anxious or depressed, is not so much the events around us, but the story that we're telling ourselves about the events.
We may see a situation like giving a presentation. We may have a thought, you know, my entire job is on the line.
People aren't going to like it. I'm gonna do a terrible job. Not surprising, that with that soundtrack,
you're gonna feel very anxious in that situation. But you do have choices. And cognitive behavior therapy is really
about teaching people to not go with their first reaction and think about another angle, a more
realistic angle on the situation, and really cultivating that habit. Once you think of your options and don't just
go with your first thought, what you'll find is that those more realistic interpretations really come to you.
You won't have to work so hard to find them. The second step, though, of cognitive behavior therapy is really action-oriented.
So it may be that you're going to practice giving speeches in a small group to your therapist or to your family,
and then build up from there. Or if you have a phobia about ordering at a restaurant or making phone calls, you're going
to practice that and go with, gradually, greater and greater degrees of difficulty. People can tell you that you're gonna do fine in a situation.
But what will prove that to you the most is when you see yourself doing that. So cognitive behavior therapy really
provides patients with the opportunity to see how they're able to manage a situation competently
and without anxiety. [AUDIO LOGO]
mental health behavior
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