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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What CBT is, what a session involves, and which concerns it works best for. Online cognitive behavioural therapy with a licensed Indian psychologist.

CBT is the most extensively researched form of psychotherapy. It is structured, practical, time-limited, and it works on the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

CBT may suit you if

You do not need to identify with all of these. Even a few is reason enough to talk to someone.

You want a structured approach with clear goals
You prefer practical tools over open-ended exploration
You're dealing with anxiety, depression, panic, OCD or insomnia
You want measurable progress and a defined endpoint
You're willing to do work between sessions
You'd like to understand the mechanism, not just talk

Why this happens

CBT rests on a simple observation with deep consequences: it is not events themselves that determine how we feel, but the interpretation we place on them. Two people passed over for a promotion can feel entirely differently depending on what they conclude it means. CBT makes those interpretations visible, tests them against evidence, and pairs that with behavioural change — because insight without behaviour change rarely holds. It is recommended in clinical guidelines across multiple countries as a first-line treatment for several conditions.

How therapy helps

What the work actually involves, session by session.

1

Formulation

Early sessions build a shared map of what maintains your difficulty right now — the current cycle, rather than an exhaustive history.

2

Thought records

Learning to catch automatic thoughts and evaluate them accurately. This is a skill, and like any skill it improves with practice.

3

Behavioural experiments

Testing predictions in the real world. Far more convincing than discussion, and where most of the change happens.

4

Relapse prevention

CBT explicitly aims to make you your own therapist, with a written plan for handling future dips.

Ready to start?

Book a short exploratory call. No commitment — just a conversation to work out what would help.

Book a session

Frequently asked questions

How long does CBT take?
Typically twelve to twenty sessions depending on the concern. Panic and insomnia protocols are often shorter; complex or longstanding difficulties take longer.
Is CBT just positive thinking?
No, and this is the most common misconception. CBT aims for accurate thinking, not positive thinking. Sometimes accurate thinking confirms that a situation genuinely is difficult — and then the work turns to what you do about it.
Does CBT ignore the past?
CBT focuses on what maintains a problem now, but it certainly explores the origins of core beliefs where relevant. It is present-focused rather than past-blind.
Does CBT work online?
Yes. Video-delivered CBT has been studied extensively and shows outcomes comparable to in-person delivery for common anxiety and mood conditions.
If you are in crisis, please reach out now.
Online therapy is not an emergency service. If you are thinking about harming yourself, contact Tele-MANAS on 14416 (free, 24×7, available in multiple Indian languages) or AASRA on +91 98204 66726. If there is immediate danger to life, call 112. If you are outside India, contact your local emergency number.
Written and clinically reviewed by Ms Priya ParwaniCounselling Psychologist & Founder, Insights WellbeingM.Sc. Psychology, Christ University, Bangalore · Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling, Symbiosis University, Pune · B.A. Psychology, Sophia College · Certified Counsellor & PsychotherapistLast reviewed: July 2026. This page is for general information and is not a substitute for individual clinical assessment.

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