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Treatment terms

CBT

Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, board-certified psychiatrist and the reviewer of this article.

Reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA·Updated March 15, 2026·About 3 minutes

About this term

Sources

  • Beck AT, Rush AJ, Shaw BF, Emery G. Cognitive Therapy of Depression. Guilford Press, 1979.
  • Cuijpers P, et al. Psychotherapies for depression in adults: a network meta-analysis. World Psychiatry. 2021.
  • NICE Guideline NG222.
  • American Psychiatric Association. Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder.

Primary source: NIMH: Psychotherapies.

Frequently asked questions

What's cognitive behavioral therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a structured, time-limited talk therapy that targets the patterns of thinking and behavior that maintain depression. Sessions are active and skill-based. Homework between sessions is part of how it works. CBT has the strongest research evidence of any psychotherapy for depression.
How is CBT different from other therapy?
CBT is more structured, more present-focused, and more skills-based than open-ended supportive or psychodynamic therapy. A typical course is 12 to 20 weekly sessions with a clear plan. The therapist teaches specific tools and works with you to apply them between sessions.
How long does CBT take?
A standard course of CBT for depression is 12 to 20 sessions. Some people see meaningful change earlier. Some need longer, especially when there's a chronic pattern, a co-occurring condition, or trauma in the picture.
Does CBT work as well as medication?
For mild to moderate depression, CBT and antidepressants have similar response rates. For moderate to severe depression, the combination usually outperforms either alone. CBT also has evidence for relapse prevention after recovery, especially mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).
What if I can't find a CBT therapist?
Self-guided CBT workbooks (David Burns' "Feeling Good," Christine Padesky and Dennis Greenberger's "Mind Over Mood") and digital CBT programs have evidence for mild to moderate depression. They aren't a substitute for in-person care for severe depression, but they can be a useful starting point or supplement.
What's behavioral activation?
Behavioral activation is a structured therapy that targets the loss of activity and reward in depression. Instead of waiting to feel better before doing more, the person and therapist identify activities that used to bring meaning or pleasure, schedule them in small steps, and notice the effect. It has evidence on par with full CBT for depression.

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Last reviewed March 15, 2026.

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