According to the cognitive behavioral therapy approach, addictive behaviors, such as drinking, drug use, problem gambling, compulsive shopping, video game addiction, food addiction, and other types of harmful excessive behavior, are the result of inaccurate thoughts and subsequent negative feelings. The role of subjective mood states in the maintenence of gambling behaviour, Journal of Gambling Studies, 11, 123-135. Adolescent gambling. Abstract The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of behavioral and cognitive treatment approaches in the management of pathological gambling disorders. Disappointingly, the literature to date contains only one controlled outcome study in which two differing behavioral techniques were compared.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave.

It's most commonly used to treat anxiety and depression, but can be useful for other mental and physical health problems.

How CBT works

CBT is based on the concept that your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions are interconnected, and that negative thoughts and feelings can trap you in a vicious cycle.

CBT aims to help you deal with overwhelming problems in a more positive way by breaking them down into smaller parts.

You're shown how to change these negative patterns to improve the way you feel.

Unlike some other talking treatments, CBT deals with your current problems, rather than focusing on issues from your past.

It looks for practical ways to improve your state of mind on a daily basis.

Uses for CBT

CBT has been shown to be an effective way of treating a number of different mental health conditions.

In addition to depression or anxiety disorders, CBT can also help people with:

eating disorders – such as anorexia and bulimia
obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
sleep problems – such as insomnia
problems related to alcohol misuse

CBT is also sometimes used to treat people with long-term health conditions, such as:

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)

Although CBT cannot cure the physical symptoms of these conditions, it can help people cope better with their symptoms.

What happens during CBT sessions

If CBT is recommended, you'll usually have a session with a therapist once a week or once every 2 weeks.

The course of treatment usually lasts for between 5 and 20 sessions, with each session lasting 30 to 60 minutes.

During the sessions, you'll work with your therapist to break down your problems into their separate parts, such as your thoughts, physical feelings and actions.

You and your therapist will analyse these areas to work out if they're unrealistic or unhelpful, and to determine the effect they have on each other and on you.

Your therapist will then be able to help you work out how to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.

After working out what you can change, your therapist will ask you to practise these changes in your daily life and you'll discuss how you got on during the next session.

The eventual aim of therapy is to teach you to apply the skills you have learnt during treatment to your daily life.

This should help you manage your problems and stop them having a negative impact on your life, even after your course of treatment finishes.

Pros and cons of CBT

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be as effective as medicine in treating some mental health problems, but it may not be successful or suitable for everyone.

Some of the advantages of CBT include:

it may be helpful in cases where medicine alone has not worked
it can be completed in a relatively short period of time compared with other talking therapies
the highly structured nature of CBT means it can be provided in different formats, including in groups, self-help books and apps (you can find mental health apps and tools in the NHS apps library)
it teaches you useful and practical strategies that can be used in everyday life, even after the treatment has finished

Some of the disadvantages of CBT to consider include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Research

you need to commit yourself to the process to get the most from it – a therapist can help and advise you, but they need your co-operation
attending regular CBT sessions and carrying out any extra work between sessions can take up a lot of your time
it may not be suitable for people with more complex mental health needs or learning difficulties, as it requires structured sessions
it involves confronting your emotions and anxieties – you may experience initial periods where you're anxious or emotionally uncomfortable
it focuses on the person's capacity to change themselves (their thoughts, feelings and behaviours) – this does not address any wider problems in systems or families that often have a significant impact on someone's health and wellbeing

Some critics also argue that because CBT only addresses current problems and focuses on specific issues, it does not address the possible underlying causes of mental health conditions, such as an unhappy childhood.

How to find a CBT therapist

You can get psychological therapies, including CBT, on the NHS.

You can refer yourself directly to an NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT) without a referral from a GP.

Or your GP can refer you if you prefer.

If you can afford it, you can choose to pay for your therapy privately. The cost of private therapy sessions varies, but it's usually £40 to £100 per session.

The British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) keeps a register of all accredited therapists in the UK and The British Psychological Society (BPS) has a directory of chartered psychologists, some of whom specialise in CBT.

Video: psychological therapies for stress, anxiety and depression

Animated video explaining self-referral to psychological therapies services for stress, anxiety or depression.

Media last reviewed: 5 September 2018
Media review due: 5 September 2021

Page last reviewed: 16 July 2019
Next review due: 16 July 2022

How CBT can help with problems with Gambling

Gambling in itself, like a day at the races, playing the lottery is not problematic. Gambling, just like drinking alcohol only becomes problematic when the person is doing it at the expense of other commitments like work and family. People who are problem gamblers can’t control their impulses to gamble.

You may well have a problem with gambling if you

have a preoccupation with gambling e.g. thinking of ways to get money to gamble or strategies to win.
Are gambling with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement.
Have made repeated unsuccessful efforts to control or stop gambling
If you get restless or irritable when attempting to control or stop gambling.
Are gambling to escape from problems.
If you are continuing to gamble despite losses in an effort to recoup money lost.
If you are lying to others to hide gambling behaviours or consequences of gambling (e.g. lost money).
If you are committing illegal acts (e.g. theft) to finance gambling or gambling debt.
If you are risking or losing significant opportunities (e.g. relationships and jobs) due to gambling.
If you are borrowing money to finance gambling or gambling debts.

As with all addictions, the severity of the problem varies from person to person, and there’s no set pattern for when addicts gamble (daily vs. weekly) or the medium they use. Some research suggests that men tend to prefer sports betting and competitive skill-based games, while women are more likely to play the slot machines or bingo.

As with all addictions, one of the first steps on the road to recovery is admitting there’s something wrong in the first place. The percentage of gambling addicts who seek out treatment is small (some estimates are as low as 3%), most addicts don’t get help until very lat

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Gambling