cognitive behavioral therapy

noun

variants or less commonly cognitive behavior therapy
: psychotherapy that combines cognitive therapy with behavior therapy by identifying faulty or maladaptive patterns of thinking, emotional response, or behavior and substituting them with desirable patterns of thinking, emotional response, or behavior
—abbreviation CBT

Note: Cognitive behavioral therapy is used in the treatment of various mental and emotional disorders including depression, anxiety, anorexia, and substance abuse. Cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are often used interchangeably.

Cognitive behavioral therapy prods patients to do things that will make them feel a sense of accomplishment and connection, and to avoid interpreting situations as being worse than they are.—David H. Freedman
The most scientifically studied technique, cognitive behavior therapy, teaches people to identify and dispute self-degrading thoughts … that can feed on themselves and cause people to sink into despair.—Benedict Carey

Examples of cognitive behavioral therapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The program prioritizes age-appropriate social-emotional learning in schools — helping students identify emotions and develop tools to regulate them, along with cognitive behavioral therapy training and counseling in schools for students who need it. —Liam Rappleye, Detroit Free Press, 8 Sep. 2024 These platforms use natural language processing to deliver emotional support and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques without the stigma associated with traditional therapy. —Anisha Sircar, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 Scola is now seeing her new psychologist regularly for non-medication treatment and is teaming up with Macedo for weekly accountability meetings guided by a cognitive behavioral therapy workbook. —Diane MacEdo, ABC News, 23 Oct. 2024 But current treatment options, including antidepressants and some specialized forms of cognitive behavioral therapy, are limited in their scope and effectiveness, with few alternatives available to help those who don’t respond well to them. —Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cognitive behavioral therapy 

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cognitive behavioral therapy was in 1975

Dictionary Entries Near cognitive behavioral therapy

cognitive

cognitive behavioral therapy

cognitive dissonance

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Cognitive behavioral therapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cognitive%20behavioral%20therapy. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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Medical Definition

cognitive behavioral therapy

noun
variants also cognitive behavior therapy
: psychotherapy that combines cognitive therapy with behavior therapy by identifying faulty or maladaptive patterns of thinking, emotional response, or behavior and substituting them with desirable patterns of thinking, emotional response, or behavior
—abbreviation CBT

Note: Cognitive behavioral therapy is used in the treatment of various mental and emotional disorders including depression, anxiety, anorexia, and substance abuse. Cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are often used interchangeably.

Cognitive behavioral therapy prods patients to do things that will make them feel a sense of accomplishment and connection, and to avoid interpreting situations as being worse than they are.—David H. Freedman, Discover
The most scientifically studied technique, cognitive behavior therapy, teaches people to identify and dispute self-degrading thoughts … that can feed on themselves and cause people to sink into despair.—Benedict Carey, The New York Times
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