What problems can CBT treat?

Kevin Mangelschots·10/06/2025·0 comments

Cognitive behavioral therapy is widely used for various mental health disorders and behavioral issues.

  1. Mood disorders

    • Depression

Aids in detecting and confronting antagonistic reflections, reducing avoidance behaviors, and building healthy coping strategies.

    • Bipolar disorder

Often used alongside medication to help manage mood swings and prevent relapse.

  1. Anxiety disorders
    • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Teaches techniques to challenge excessive worrying and develop relaxation skills.

    • Social anxiety disorder

Helps individuals push through fears of judgment and engage in social situations more confidently.

    • Panic disorder

Reduces panic attacks by teaching breathing exercises and facing catastrophic thinking.

    • Phobias

Uses exposure therapy to gradually reduce fear responses.

  1. Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders
    • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Uses exposure and response prevention (ERP) to decrease compulsions and intrusive thoughts.

    • Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

Assists in reframing negative body image perceptions.
A woman standing in front of a mirror while holding her waist.

    • Hoarding disorder

Addresses thought patterns that contribute to the extreme accumulation of items.

  1. Trauma and stress-related disorders
    • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Helps to process traumatic memories and ease distressing thoughts.

    • Acute stress disorder

Similar to PTSD, but for recent trauma.

  1. Eating disorders
    • Bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder

Addresses dysfunctional beliefs about food, body image, and self-worth.

    • Anorexia nervosa

Often used in combination with nutritional counseling and medical care.

  1. Substance use and addiction
    A drunk woman holding her drink while lying passed out drunk on the bar.
    • Alcohol and drug addiction

Helps identify triggers, develop coping mechanisms, and prevent relapse.

    • Gambling addiction

Deals with irrational beliefs about winning and losing.

  1. Personality disorders
    • Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

A form of CBT called dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is highly efficient in managing emotional instability and impulsivity.

  1. Sleep disorders
    Image of a man lying awake in bed, unable to sleep, with the clock reading 4:24.
    • Insomnia

CBT for insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold standard for treating chronic sleep problems by improving sleep hygiene and reducing sleep anxiety.

  1. Chronic pain and health conditions
    • Chronic pain

Supports change in how pain is perceived and improves coping strategies.

    • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Lowers stress-related triggers.

    • Fibromyalgia

Assists in managing pain and improving quality of life.

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Kevin

Hi there, I’m Kevin Mangelschots! A little more about myself: - I'm 33 years old. - I’m a registered, licensed, and practicing therapist with a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy. - Currently practicing at a rehabilitation center located in Belgium. Longtime fitness and gaming enthusiast. - Turned towards psychology, philosophy, mental health, and self-improvement to improve my chronic depression. - My goal is to share evidence-based information with the world that I know is helpful and useful to improve depression and overall well-being. In short, I’m just a guy trying to make sense of the world by thinking about ideas, studying psychology, philosophy, and mental and physical health. I strive to apply my degree in healthcare (occupational therapy) to explain concepts as clearly as possible, based on current research findings.

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