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.
Instead of retaining jurisdiction, Miller sentenced Bainbridge to 90 days in the Ada County Jail and required him to complete the Active Behavioral Change program, a course that uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people change their behavior. Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 25 Feb. 2025 Therapy—specifically cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—and mindfulness may be beneficial for treating RSD. Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 14 Jan. 2025 At the same time, cognitive behavioral therapy explains suffering as something to conquer to be able to live a fulfilled life. Eugene Klishevich, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024 Students in the program are paired with mentors and attend weekly group therapy, where clinicians use cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, to help change their thought patterns – especially around traumatic experiences. Meg Anderson, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Cognitive behavioral therapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cognitive%20behavioral%20therapy. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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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