Cognitive-behavioral therapy includes a variety of approaches that all operate on the idea that it is usually our thoughts that cause our feelings and our feelings that drive our behaviors. Therefore, we can change the way we feel about people, situations and events and the way we react to them if we change the way we think about them.  What this means is that no one person or situation can make you feel or behave a certain way; It's up to you.

 

The therapeutic process involves identifying thoughts and beliefs, then determining whether or not they are helpful or fact-based. Those that are determined to be unhelpful are then challenged and transformed into helpful, rational thoughts.