The fundamental idea of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is that our thoughts determine how we feel and what we do.
We all have certain ways of understanding and interpreting our world, ourself, and each other but we rarely question these.
By asking the relevant kinds of questions to our ways of thinking we
can get a clearer perspective of when and how patterns of thoughts are
related to certain emotional and behavioural problems such as anxiety
and depression.
CBT is a problem-focused and time-limited treatment method, which is based on active collaboration between client and therapist. The goal is for the client to become an "expert" him/herself when it comes to the ability to observe and modify his or her own dysfunctional patterns of thoughts and behaviour and replace them with more constructive ones.
CBT is no magic or mysterious technique. Actually, it is rather the opposite. It is all about making it easier to access ones core beliefs and problematic patterns and becoming more aware of when negative thoughts are causing the problems. We all have the ability to think in more constructive and beneficial ways and CBT is a way to help you improve and strengthen that ability.