cognitive behavioural therapy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Formal, Medical, Academic, Clinical Psychology
Quick answer
What does “cognitive behavioural therapy” mean?
A widely used, structured, short-term psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and changing negative or distorted thought patterns (cognitions) and maladaptive behaviours.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A widely used, structured, short-term psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and changing negative or distorted thought patterns (cognitions) and maladaptive behaviours.
An evidence-based therapeutic approach combining cognitive therapy (addressing unhelpful thoughts) and behavioural therapy (addressing unhelpful actions). It is based on the concept that thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are interconnected, and that changing negative thought patterns can lead to changes in feelings and behaviour. It is commonly used to treat conditions like depression, anxiety, phobias, and PTSD.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British English uses 'behavioural' (double 'l'), American English uses 'behavioral' (single 'l'). No difference in meaning or application.
Connotations
Slightly more clinical/formal register in the UK; in the US, it is a very common term in both public and professional discourse.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties, but the abbreviation 'CBT' is more common in everyday clinical and media contexts than the full term.
Grammar
How to Use “cognitive behavioural therapy” in a Sentence
Patient + undergo + CBTTherapist + practise + CBTCBT + help + patient + with + conditionCBT + focus + on + thoughtsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cognitive behavioural therapy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The psychologist specialises in CBT-ing his patients for OCD.
- She was CBT-ed over a period of six months.
American English
- He trained to practice CBT.
- The clinic offers CBT for insomnia.
adverb
British English
- The treatment was delivered cognitive behaviourally.
American English
- The intervention was structured cognitive behaviorally.
adjective
British English
- He is a leading cognitive behavioural therapist.
- They followed a cognitive behavioural approach.
American English
- She uses a cognitive behavioral framework.
- It's a core cognitive behavioral technique.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in workplace wellness programmes: 'The company offers CBT sessions through its employee assistance programme.'
Academic
Extremely common in psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience papers: 'The efficacy of CBT was measured using a randomised controlled trial.'
Everyday
Common in health discussions: 'My doctor suggested I try CBT for my anxiety.'
Technical
Precise term in clinical psychology manuals: 'The treatment protocol adhered to the standardised CBT model for OCD.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cognitive behavioural therapy”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cognitive behavioural therapy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cognitive behavioural therapy”
- Incorrect: 'cognitive behaviour therapy' (missing 'al').
- Incorrect: 'He is a cognitive-behavioural therapist' (over-hyphenation; 'cognitive behavioural therapist' is standard).
- Incorrect verb use: 'I will CBT' (CBT is not used as a verb; use 'do CBT' or 'have CBT').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. It is most commonly used for depression, anxiety, and related disorders, but its principles are also applied to chronic pain management and insomnia.
It is often a short-term therapy, typically ranging from 6 to 20 weekly sessions, depending on the individual and the issue.
CBT is a specific, structured, goal-oriented form of therapy focused on the present. Counselling can be broader, less structured, and may explore past experiences and emotions in more depth.
While guided self-help books and apps based on CBT principles exist (often called 'self-help CBT'), working with a trained therapist is generally considered more effective for clinical conditions.
A widely used, structured, short-term psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and changing negative or distorted thought patterns (cognitions) and maladaptive behaviours.
Cognitive behavioural therapy is usually formal, medical, academic, clinical psychology in register.
Cognitive behavioural therapy: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒɡ.nə.tɪv bɪˈheɪ.vjə.rəl ˈθer.ə.pi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːɡ.nə.t̬ɪv bɪˈheɪ.vjɚ.əl ˈθer.ə.pi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A talking cure”
- “Retraining your brain”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Cognitive = 'Cog' (like a gear in your mind) + nitive (thinking). Behavioural = 'Behave' (actions). Therapy = Treatment. So, it's treatment for your thinking gears and your actions.
Conceptual Metaphor
The mind is a machine/computer that can be reprogrammed. Maladaptive thoughts are 'bugs' or 'faulty wiring' that CBT helps to debug or rewire.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary focus of cognitive behavioural therapy?