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

This includes implementing effective interventions behind bars, such as cognitive behavioral therapy to change criminal thinking patterns as well as education and workforce programs to increase individuals' odds of employment upon discharge. —Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025

According to Ashley Pena, the national executive director for Mission Connection, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one more approach to overcome your fear. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2025

Think of them, instead, as kind of volunteer neighborhood grandmothers – that is, if the grandmothers were trained in cognitive behavioral therapy. —Ryan Lenora Brown, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Feb. 2025

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

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cognitive behavioral therapy

• brachytherapy
• chemotherapy
• cryotherapy
• hydrotherapy
• hypnotherapy
• monotherapy
• phototherapy
• psychotherapy
• sclerotherapy
• immunotherapy
• pharmacotherapy
• physiotherapy

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