8 Advantages of CBT
1.There is a massive amount of research findings, which demonstrate that CBT has an unprecedented level of effectiveness. The evidence strongly proves it to be helpful in treating a large variety of mental adversities e.g depressive and/or anxiety disorders, eating disorders, addictions, personality disorders etc
2.It is short term, structured and hands on treatment that produces relatively rapid observable change and faster results than, for example, more psychoanalytic, time intensive and daunting therapies that take years.
3.The client is empowered by learning techniques and skills that help challenge negative thoughts ,unhelpful behaviors and regulate emotions. These learned skills do not only help to overcome current problems, but they continuously can be applied in diverse situations and areas in one’s life in the future. At the end of therapy the client could potentially help one self in times of distress, thus the perceivable threat of dependency is also limited. CBT is also not only talking therapy. It involves direct action taking and walking the talk done in the therapy session afterwards too.
4.CBT has a psycho- educational element that explains why and how symptoms are formed, are being maintain/ strengthened with time, as well as, the what, why and how certain steps are taken to eliminate and/or reduce these symptoms. This is another element that ensures long term results.
5.CBT was found to be successful in countless countries and cultures. Perhaps because it focuses on universal and human behavioral, emotional and cognitive patterns and tendencies that are boundaryless and collective.
6.Sessions in CBT are interactive and collaborative efforts. The psychologist is not just a passive or reflective sounding board but also a guide, an encourager, an empathetic supporter, a partner in exploring, investigating and in the implementations. It is also about encouraging the clients with questions to go deeper into their own beliefs, insights and conclusions.
7.The client is very active and has great influence over the outcome. Every action taken by the client influences the level of change. With each homework, challenge and exercise the client rates the intensity and frequency of the symptoms , emotions and thoughts. This record allows the subjective evaluation on change made through out the therapy. The more often the client carries out the exercises, confronts the fears and practices the skills, the more insights,improvement are seen and the better the results are.
8.Chances of relapse is reduced by utilizing the relapse plan that is usually given at the end of the therapy and one can always revisit all the forms, past exercises and challenges that were done during the therapy to get back on track too.
