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.
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 This strategy is, essentially, an example of how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) works. —Julia Ries, SELF, 25 Oct. 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 23 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little chihuahua dressing like a turkey for thanksgiving
Giving Thanks Quiz Decide which words express gratitude and which gi...