Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: What Is It and Who Can It Help?

Running head: COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
The role of cognitive-behavioural therapy in mental health nursing
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY1
Introduction
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a systematic and goal-oriented method of
psychotherapy to treat mental health patients representing emotional, cognitive or behavioral
breakdown (Fisher, 2014). The objectives of the paper include discussing the role of CBT in
current mental health nursing practices and elaborating the relevance of CBT in
contemporary mental health nursing.
CBT in mental health nursing
CBT has been an essential method of practice actively used in mental health care for several
years. Mental health nursing professionals use various sub-techniques of CBT which include
dialectal behavior therapy, mindfulness and acceptance and commitment theories (Langer et
al., 2017). It develops a therapeutic relationship between the patient and the mental health
nurse, which is useful in addressing the needs of the patients more closely (Fortinash &
Worret, 2014).
The relevance of CBT to professional nursing practices is confirmed by extensive available
evidence that CBT is an essential element in mental health nursing practices. Patients also
report that the behavioral, intellectual and problem-solving domains of CBT improve their
long-term quality of life (Knapen et al., 2015). CBT also lowers the risks and adversities
faced by mental health nurses in acute patient care units (Hofmann, Wu & Boettcher, 2014).
The relevance of CBT to clinical interventions is reported in several studies that CBT adds
value to the conventional pharmacotherapy treatment of mental diseases. Some clinical trials
also suggest that cognitive and behavioral approaches are equally effective as medications in