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How to Do Cognitive Therapy

Contributor
By Amber Keefer
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)

Cognitive therapy is used to treat psychological, emotional and behavioral problems. This type of therapy seems to be particularly effective for individuals suffering anxiety disorders, depression and phobias. While it is not easy for a person to change his or her emotions or way of thinking and behaving, encouragement and reinforcement can help to improve a person’s attitude. Although cognitive therapy requires effort and commitment, it can produce a positive outcome. Read on to learn how to do cognitive therapy.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Referral to a qualified behavioral therapist
  1. Step 1

    Schedule an appointment with a qualified behavioral therapist to identify and change those irrational thoughts, which may be causing you problems. By changing the way that you think, there is a good chance that you can change the way that you feel.

  2. Step 2

    By learning new ways to examine and think about problems, you can begin to look at things more realistically, eventually developing more effective ways of coping with the various stresses in your life.

  3. Step 3

    Cooperate with your therapist to find out what it is that you want out of life, and then work together to help you achieve those goals. Strive to feel comfortable in your environment as you learn how to cope with life's everyday demands at home, work, school and community.

  4. Step 4

    Becoming more active can make you feel motivated and less tired, giving you a better sense of satisfaction with life. Naturally, when your mind is unoccupied you are more likely to dwell on your problems, making you feel less in control of your life. Learn to anticipate potentially stressful situations by planning daily activities carefully.

  5. Step 5

    Improving your ability to think helps to put life’s everyday problems in better perspective, contributing to a more positive outlook on life. Learn to accept that even though you may not always be able to control the external factors influencing your life, you can learn new ways of reacting to the difficult situations you encounter.

Tips & Warnings
  • Research indicates that cognitive therapy may be more effective than antidepressant medications in the early treatment of depression, with fewer relapses over time.
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