What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
Below is an example of traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The important active ingredients in the treatment also apply when they are used in a self-help format, such as via Internet-based treatment.
The emphasis in CBT lies both between the individual and the environment, and between an individual's thoughts, behavior and feelings. Theoretically speaking, CBT is anchored in the psychology of learning, social psychology and cognitive psychology.
The word 'behavior' in CBT terms has a wider meaning than it usually has. It means conscious actions, unconscious or automatic reactions, habits, physiological reactions, emotions and sometimes even thoughts. In this broad context behavior is something that can be changed by different forms of learning.
The word 'cognition' concerns everything that involves intellect and knowledge. The concept does not only embrace conscious thoughts that one can easily talk about, but also images that might run at lightning speed through the head. It can also mean ideas or unconscious tendencies, for example concerning interpreting different situations according to ingrained patterns.
The idea of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is based on changing cognition and behaviors in order for the individual to feel better and achieve their goals in life. In treatment you as a patient are given different tasks to work with in your everyday life ("homework").
This is a very important part of the treatment, as it is in one's own everyday life that life is lived and where it is important to achieve a change. In traditional CBT you will go through your homework when you meet the therapist. In an Internet treatment this contact is maintained via e-mail.
Please notice
The Internet-based treatments described on Internetpsykiatri's webpages are conducted in Swedish and only available to people registered and living in Sweden.