Unlike psychoanalysis, cognitive therapy emphasizes solving that are happening right now, rather than delving into the past. Cognitive therapy is an active, goal-directed process which helps people to understand and change thinking and behavior. By learning and applying CT skills, anxiety, depression, anger and other problems can be ameliorated. Cognitive therapy uses a variety of cognitive and behavioral techniques to change thinking, mood and behavior and is time-limited. It initially emphasizes solving present problems and teaching individuals skills to reduce their distress.
Cognitive therapy is collaborative.
The therapist teaches the patient to identify and modify dysfunctional thinking and behavior that has impeded problem solving. Core beliefs are people's most fundamental ideas about themselves, other people, and their worlds. They develop at an early age as we attempt to make sense of our environment and to organize our experience in a coherent way so as to function adaptively. Changing one's most basic ideas about oneself modifies how one perceives situations. Seeing situations and problems more clearly and rationally aids in responding emotionally and behaviorally in a more adaptive manner.