Guide to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

What is cognitive behavioral therapy?

Cognitive behavioral therapy is an approach that began to gain recognition in the early 1960s. Its origins go back to the psychoanalyst Aaron T. Beck (Beck, 2013). He recognized the need to develop a structured therapy, based on scientific evidence, short in duration, and capable of addressing current problems. Today, cognitive behavioral therapy has been further enriched by the contributions of researchers in the following decades, renewing itself and remaining relevant through what are now referred to as “waves”.

What happens in a cognitive behavioral therapy session?

By understanding thought patterns, it becomes possible to independently learn to recognize dysfunctional behaviors — that is, those that do not help us achieve our best results in everyday life. Once we become aware of our difficulties, it also becomes possible to overcome them by replacing dysfunctional thoughts with more realistic and balanced ones.

What training does a cognitive behavioral psychologist undergo?

A cognitive behavioral psychologist has completed a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Psychology. Afterwards, following a year of supervised training, they take the state licensing exam, required for registration with the Board of Psychologists, the body that ensures compliance with the profession’s ethical standards and code of conduct. Once registered with the Board, the psychologist begins a postgraduate specialization school in psychotherapy, lasting four years. During each year of school, the psychologist is required to take part in supervised clinical training to gain practical experience.

How long does cognitive behavioral therapy last?

It is difficult to answer this question definitively, as timing varies according to the diagnosis made by the psychologist or psychiatrist. It’s important to keep in mind that therapy must always be adapted to the needs of the patient.