how affective is cognitive behavioural therapy in dealing with depression and emotional distress?

Question

and what else can it be used for? what about rational emotive therapy too?

Answer 1

CBT is EFFECTIVE only if you are mild to moderately depressed - any more than that it won't work as it involves the ability to communicate feelings clearly and it also depends on good cognitive skills. For more profound psychological problems, drug therapy in conjunction with hypnotherapy or some other practitioner-directed approach works best. The RET you mention can also be effective but that involves a good deal of openness, motivation and enthusiasm on the part of the client. Emotional Freedom is another interesting approach, where you can 'tap' away your anxieties and which makes considerable use of neurolinguistic programming.

Finally, CBT can be used for anxiety, depression, issues of self esteem and work-related stress etc. It is probably the most effective tool in the box at the moment for mild to moderate psychological problems.

Answer 2

I'm not sure even what you said, how could I know if it works?

I think you may mean "how EFFECTIVE cognitive behavorial therapy in dealing with depression and emotional distress".

Basically, it will work better on some than on others.

Answer 3

I've was seeing a cognitive behavioural therapist last September for a while and it was nice to be able to talk to somebody.
I dont think it was really going to help in the long term though so I'm now trying to find somebody else to see.
It's a case of trying things out for yourself to see if they work and if they dont then you move on to the next thing

Answer 4

I don't believe it's very effective for long term mental/emotional distress. When you get that low it's nearly impossible to think the way CBT challenges you too and I know for me I ended up feeling like more of a failure.

Answer 5

It can be very effective if you are open and willing and honest enough to talk about your problems..It didnt work for me..After 5 overdoses in one year and shouldnt have survived the last one .I am still on anti depressents.. I know they only help so much and you have to do a lot of work yoursel to get better but three yrs on and i am getting there..There are solutions to most issues in our lives. Stay strong and see your gp who can run through things with you..
Above all take care and dont end up like me by damaging your body like i have..Im only 34.
But I thank the lord i got to see my first grandchild and kids still grow up.
Kaeylarae xxx

Answer 6

Psychological therapy is very prone to fashion. 50 years ago lobotomy was the thing to do to treat depression, after that drug treatment, then group psychotherapy and now we have behaviour therapy. It is about as efficatious as a smack round the head with a wet fish, all it demonstates is how idiotic, screwed up, arrogant, ignorant and reactionary the medical profession is, especially psychiatrists and psychologists. I have never met one with any sort of residual intelligence.

Answer 7

I done a short course on it when I done voluntary work for a charity to be honest didn't think much of it someone I know went to one and they felt worse after seeing them and found it better talking to me it's a matter of listening and understanding everyone has different problems

Answer 8

Apparently it is very effective theoretically. However in practice it's poor availability stifles it.