Treatment Overview
Cognitive-behavioural therapy, also called CBT, is a way to help you stay well or cope with a health problem by changing how you think. And how you think affects how you feel.
If you learn how to stop negative thoughts when they happen, you may be more able to care for yourself and handle life's challenges. You will feel better. And you may be more able to avoid or cope with stress, anxiety, and depression.
CBT is a therapy that is often used to help people think in a healthy way. It focuses on thought (cognitive) and action (behavioural). CBT can help you notice the discouraging thoughts that make you feel bad. These thoughts are sometimes called irrational or automatic thoughts.
Using CBT, you can learn to stop these thoughts and replace them with helpful thoughts. This kind of thinking also involves calming your mind and body. You can use one or more techniques. These may include meditation, yoga, muscle relaxation, or guided imagery.
Many people work with a therapist or a counsellor to learn CBT. But you also can practice on your own.
For more information, see Stop Negative Thoughts: Choosing a Healthier Way of Thinking.
What To Expect After Treatment
Cognitive-behavioural skills can change the way your mind influences your body. When you shift your thinking away from the pain and change your focus to more positive aspects of your life, you change the way your body responds to the anticipated pain and stress.
Why It Is Done
The goal of cognitive-behavioural therapy is to change the way you think about the pain so that your body and mind respond better when you have episodes of pain. Therapy focuses on changing your thoughts about illness and then helping you adopt positive ways of coping with illness. For cognitive-behavioural therapy to be most effective, work together with your counsellor toward common goals.
How Well It Works
CBT can be helpful for chronic pain by changing the way you think about pain. It also teaches you how to become more active. This helps, because pain can also improve with appropriate physical activity, such as walking or swimming.
Risks
There are no risks linked with cognitive-behavioural therapy.
What To Think About
Whatever the reasons for improvement, it is clear that cognitive-behavioural therapy can be helpful for some people who have persistent pain. It has virtually none of the side effects that other treatments, such as medicines, can cause.
Credits
Current as of: March 28, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine & Donald Sproule, MDCM, CCFP - Family Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Nancy E. Greenwald, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
