For example, a patients may call a friend who states they are unavailable to go out for dinner. The therapist goes through each step in the process of automatic thinking and helps to generate alternate possibilities and explanations. The patient then is given exercises to practice new or alternate patterns of thinking. A typical course of CBT is around 20 sessions, one per week, for 5-6 months. Training for this therapy takes several months and then one must obtain supervision in several cases over several months.
Most therapist are psychologists, social workers and non-physicians.
A theoretical presentation of the validity of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for treating derpession follows this link. The purpose of this commentary is to provide information and education.