Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an umbrella term for a variety of structured, goal-oriented, and present-focused psychotherapy approaches and is also used to refer to therapy that is based on basic behavioral and cognitive research. Its origin lies in a merging of behavior therapy with cognitive therapy in the 1950s and 1960s, which was pioneered by Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck. CBT characteristically involves a clear operationalization of treatment goals, is based on empirical data, and involves ongoing measurement of changes in cognition and behavior. CBT has been shown to be effective for a large range of mental health problems at different levels of [Page 101]severity, including but not limited to mood and anxiety disorders, substance abuse, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, and eating disorders.

CBT adopts ...