WHAT COGNITIVE THERAPY IS NOT
Cognitive therapy is not simply positive thinking. It is not just thinking affirmations or positive thoughts and repeating them many times a day.
The
fact is that positive thinking alone doesn’t work. Why? Because when
people are depressed or anxious, their thoughts tend become inaccurate
and simply repeating a positive statement which may also be inaccurate
has little effect at changing negative feelings. More powerful tools
are needed. Tools like learning how to analyze the thoughts that
accompany the negative feelings, or learning to assertively fight back
against these negative thoughts and feelings. Cognitive Therapists
teach a large number of thinking skills that allow clients to take
charge of their thoughts.