Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an active, direct, short-term, structured approach to treat a variety of psychiatric disorders (i.e., depression, anxiety, phobias, pain, etc). It is based on the premise that an individual's affect (emotions) and behaviors are determined by the way in which one structures the world. Ones thoughts are based on attitudes or assumptions, developed from previous experiences. For example, if an individual interprets all experiences in terms of whether one is competent and adequate, their thinking may be dominated by such self-statements as "Unless I do everything perfectly, I'm a failure."

Specific techniques of CBT are designed to identify, reality-test, and correct distorted conceptualizations and the dysfunctional beliefs underlying these thoughts. CBT teaches the individual to master problems and situations which were previously considered insurmountable by reevaluating and correcting one's thinking. The CBT therapist assists the client to think and act more realistically and rationally about one's psychological problems and thus reduces unpleasant feelings and behaviors.

Therapy consists of highly specific learning experiences designed to teach the client the following functions:

1. (1)to monitor negative, automatic thoughts (thoughts that we are not even aware of)
2. (2)to recognize the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
3. (3)to examine the evidence for and against distorted thoughts
4. (4)to substitute more reality-oriented interpretations for these biased thoughts
5. (5)to learn to identify and alter the dysfunctional beliefs which predispose one to distort one's experiences

CBT focuses on the "here-and-now". The CBT therapist actively collaborates with the client in exploring one's psychological experiences, setting up schedules of activities, and making homework assignments.

CBT has an emphasis on the client's internal experiences, such as thoughts, feelings, wishes, daydreams, and attitudes. The overall strategy of CBT may be different from other therapy by its emphasis on the empirical investigation of the client's automatic thoughts, inferences, conclusions, and assumptions. CBT therapists formulates the clients dysfunctional idea and belief about oneself, one's experiences, and one's future into hypotheses and then attempt to test the validity of these faulty thoughts/assumptions and ultimately restructure the thoughts in a more logical and rational way.