We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Different Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Activities?

By Erin J. Hill
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,580
Share

Cognitive behavioral therapy activities usually involve having patients with certain disorders talk about their feelings toward certain situations, and do things which make them feel anxious. These activities are typically not physically harmful, but they cause irrational fears or anxiety in those with certain disorders. By exposing themselves to these activities over time, the anxiety lessens, and the patient is able to get a better handle on his or her condition. Eventually, he or she may also discover how to use cognitive behavioral activities as self-treatment when new anxieties emerge.

There are a wide range of conditions for which cognitive behavioral therapy is recommended. The can include obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), agoraphobia, and other anxiety disorders. Most individuals with these conditions have severe and prolonged anxiety over situations that will never happen. Those who do worry about real potential danger usually worry over these events or situations more than most people. For instance, a hypochondriac worries obsessively about illnesses or dying. Although illness and death are actual threats, constant worry over their potential occurrence can significantly lower one's quality of life.

Most anxiety disorders are treated with a combination of medication and cognitive behavioral therapy activities. The role of medication is usually to keep anxious feelings at bay to a great enough extent for therapy to be possible. Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to "re-wire" the brain so that thoughts or situations are no longer fear inducing in patients. This is achieved by exposing patients to the very things they fear most. Patients are also given the chance to talk about their thoughts towards themselves, fears, and anxieties, as they are often skewed. Patients must learn to view situations more realistically through talking, and through activities.

In many cases, cognitive behavioral therapy will involve talking about thoughts and feelings in regards to certain situations. These can be imagined situations, such as feelings of fear or doom, or real ones, such as death of a loved one. Most times, therapists speak with patients to help them recognize negative thought patterns, and they help them begin focusing on more positive thoughts and emotions. Other times, they may slowly expose patients to anxiety-provoking situations so that they can more easily deal with them.

Exposure to troublesome ideas or circumstances is usually done gradually. For instance, imagine someone with obsessive compulsive disorder who feels the urge to tap on the door three times before leaving any room. He or she must do this over and over again until the taps "feel" right. Failure to do so causes crippling anxiety and a feeling of impending doom. Cognitive behavioral therapy activities for this person might begin with having him simply imagine leaving a room without tapping the door.

Even something as small as visualizing leaving the room would likely cause anxiety in the patient. He may be tempted to go back and have the same thoughts again, only this time adding the taps as he leaves the room. With time, however, the patient should be able to visualize himself leaving a room without tapping the door. Once this is accomplished, the patient may be asked to actually get up and leave the room without tapping on the door first.

These repetitive cognitive behavioral therapy activities work by showing patients over and over again, and that nothing bad will happen if they fail to engage in rituals, or if they perform activities which frighten them. The length of time cognitive behavioral therapy activities are needed will depend on the patient and the severity of the condition being treated. Many patients take several months, or even years, before they are able to successfully self-treat using these methods.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Spotiche5 — On Sep 23, 2014

@raynbow- I agree with you about the benefits of talk therapy, but I do think that some people need more to address their mental and emotional problems. This is where various medications come into the picture.

When a client is able to take medications for symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, and depression, the benefits of talk therapy are enhanced. The reason for this is because when symptoms are under control, a patient can focus better on dealing with the underlying causes with his or her cognitive behavioral therapist.

By Raynbow — On Sep 22, 2014

I think that the ability to talk about symptoms and problems with a cognitive behavioral therapist is the best form of therapy. It has been shown that when people use talk therapy to address their issues, they are able to see them clearly and deal with them easily.

Having an impartial person to talk to is also beneficial when it comes to addressing relationship and family issues in therapy.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-different-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-activities.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.