What is cognitive therapy primarily designed to change?

Cognitive therapy is primarily designed to change negative patterns of thinking. The main premise of cognitive therapy is that our thoughts play a crucial role in shaping our feelings and behaviors. By identifying and challenging distorted or negative thoughts, individuals can change their cognitive processes, which in turn can lead to improvements in mood and behavior.

This therapeutic approach focuses on helping individuals recognize how their thoughts contribute to their mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, and aims to replace those negative thought patterns with more realistic and positive ones. It is based on the understanding that these cognitive distortions can lead to a negative cycle of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

Focusing exclusively on external behaviors, physical responses to stress, or emotional responses to positive situations does not align with the core objectives of cognitive therapy, which emphasizes the fundamental role that cognition plays in emotional and behavioral responses.