Introduction to CBT and Resources
What is Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy?
Written by: Fei Ying, M.Sc., and Dalainey Drakes, MSc.
Members of the CACBT-ACTCC Student Committee
Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) was first developed in the 1960s and has since grown into one of the most widely-used and evidence-based forms of therapy. CBT is based on the underlying assumption that how individuals think about and interpret events influences how they feel and behave. The goal of the therapeutic process is to help clients become aware of and modify their maladaptive (unhelpful) thoughts and beliefs. By developing more evidence-based and adaptive ways of processing information, cognitive-behavioural theory contends that individuals can make desired changes in their emotions and behaviours, which, in turn, can lead to a reduction in psychological distress.
The role of the CBT therapist is to help clients explore the accuracy and usefulness of their thoughts and beliefs, as well as alternative ways of thinking. To do this, CBT therapists may use a variety of techniques including psychoeducation, thought records, the downward arrow, or deeper schema work. Therapists may also guide clients through Socratic dialogue and behavioural experiments, which allow patients to test the validity of their beliefs. Various behavioural strategies are an important part of CBT (e.g., self-monitoring, exposure), and are used to promote direct behavioural changes as well as target underlying cognitions. Lastly, CBT interventions tend to be problem-focused, time-limited, and help clients develop coping skills.
The efficacy and effectiveness of CBT have been highly researched and have received considerable support. Sufficient evidence has accumulated to suggest that CBT should be the treatment of choice for many anxiety disorders, including specific phobias, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. CBT is also an evidence-based treatment for depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, sleep difficulties, and much more (see Dobson & Dozois, 2019 for a full review of the empirical support for CBT). Please see below for some selected manuals and books on the topics of CBT research, theory and practice.
For those interested in getting more training in CBT, please feel free to visit the CBT Training section of the CACBT website.
Manuals and Books
Antony, M. M. & Barlow, D. H. (Eds.). (2020). Handbook of assessment and treatment planning for psychological disorders (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
Beck, J. S. (2021). Cognitive therapy: Basics and beyond (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
Dobson, K. S., & Dozois, D. J. A. (Eds.). (2019). Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies (4th ed.). Guilford Press.
Iwamasa, G. Y. & Hays, P. A. (Eds.). (2019). Culturally responsive cognitive behavior therapy (2nd ed.). American Psychological Association.
Leahy, R. L. (2017). Cognitive therapy techniques: A practitioner’s guide (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Martell, C.R., Dimidjian, S., & Herman-Dunn, R. (2010). Behavioral activation for depression: A clinician’s guide. Guilford Press.
Robichaud, M., Koerner, N., & Dugas, M. J. (2019). Cognitive-behavioral treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: From science to practice (2nd ed). Routledge.