Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a comprehensive system of psychotherapy that involves a combination of self-exploration, symptom and problem resolution, improving quality of life, and working toward life goals. Clients are taught a range of strategies and are given between session assignments and coaching to help them to generalize skills to their daily life. Treatment is time-limited, varies in length depending on the presenting problem, and involves one or more of the following modalities: individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, and parent training.

Research has shown that CBT is effective in addressing a wide range of problems in children, adolescents, and adults. This approach is based on a theoretical model, which argues that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence each other, and contribute to the development and maintenance of psychological disorders. Accordingly, cognitive behavioral approaches treat psychological problems by intervening in all three areas: 1) assisting clients with increasing their awareness of thoughts and, when necessary, correcting errors in thinking, 2) identifying and labeling emotions and learning strategies to improve emotion regulation, and 3) examining and changing behavioral patterns that cause and maintain problematic thoughts and emotions. The CBT model has been applied with success in the treatment of a wide range of disorders and problems, including depression, anxiety (e.g., social anxiety, specific phobias, OCD, generalized anxiety disorder), anger, habit disorders (e.g., trichotillomania, skin picking), impulsive behaviors, thought disorders, ADHD, behavioral problems, social skills deficits, and family/relational problems. Importantly, this therapy approach has demonstrated success both alone, and in combination with medication. Furthermore, research has demonstrated maintenance of treatment gains over time.