What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a therapy that’s focused on helping people become aware of negative or inaccurate thinking so that they can better manage challenging situations. Patients who benefit from the therapy are more equipped to assess thoughts and identify unhelpful ones, which helps them handle stressful scenarios in a more positive way.
Most cognitive behavioral therapy programs involve a set number of meetings between a doctor or other provider and the patient. Compared to some other therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy can involve a relatively few number of appointments but have significant effects.
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Used to Treat?
Cognitive behavioral therapy is widely used to treat mental health disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders and depression. Its benefits aren’t limited to the field of mental health, though.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is also highly effective in the treatment of sleep disorders. People who suffer from insomnia, in particular, are able to use what they learn through the therapy to dismiss stressful thoughts that keep them awake at night.
How Long Is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Session?
Most cognitive behavioral therapy sessions are scheduled for an hour or less. Patients can ask how long their session will take when making an appointment to see a doctor.
What Should Patients With Sleeping Disorders Look for in a Doctor?
Patients who suffer from sleeping disorders and want to explore cognitive behavioral therapy should look for a licensed and board-certified doctor who specializes in sleep medicine but also highly trained in cognitive behavioral therapy.
Additionally, patients may also want to look for a physician who practices at a conveniently located office. Although the therapy doesn’t require a lot of sessions, it does typically require going to multiple appointments. Seeing a nearby physician makes getting to and from appointments easy.