CBT by Condition

Guides

Evidence‑informed CBT guides by condition

Explore how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) supports recovery across common conditions. Each guide summarizes key symptoms, mechanisms, effective CBT strategies, and journaling prompts to practice safely. Educational content only; not a substitute for professional care.

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Major Depressive Disorder

Behavioral activation, cognitive restructuring, and rumination reduction.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Worry cycles, intolerance of uncertainty, and problem‑solving skills.

Panic Disorder

Interoceptive exposure and reappraising catastrophic misinterpretations.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Attention training, behavioral experiments, and safety‑behavior fading.

Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder

Trauma‑focused CBT principles and gradual approach to triggers.

Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder

Exposure with response prevention and values‑aligned choices.

Insomnia Disorder

CBT‑I foundations: stimulus control, sleep scheduling, and wind‑down.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Activation, balanced appraisals, and rhythm/light considerations.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Cycle tracking, coping plans, and self‑compassionate standards.

Substance Use (Adjunctive)

Functional analysis, coping skills, and stimulus control.

Adolescent Anxiety

Graded exposures, reduce accommodation, and school supports.

Older Adult Adaptations

PST elements, memory aids, routines, and social activation.

Specific Phobias

Graded exposure, inhibitory learning, and expectancy violation.

Health Anxiety / Somatic Symptom

Reducing reassurance, tolerating uncertainty, and values‑based living.

Somatic Symptom Disorder CBT Journal

Interoceptive exposures, thought records, and red‑flag coordination.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Exposure/ritual prevention, mirror work, and belief updating.

Adult ADHD

Skills‑focused CBT: planning, cueing, and friction reduction.

Bipolar Disorder (Adjunctive)

Relapse plans, sleep/social rhythm, and family‑focused strategies.

Chronic Pain

Pacing, activity restoration, and pain‑related cognition work.

Eating Disorders (CBT‑E)

Regular eating, exposure to feared foods, and body image work.

Endometriosis Pain + CBT Thought Record

Flare logs, cognitive reframes, and pacing alongside medical care.

Hoarding Disorder

Sorting skills, exposure to discarding, and values‑guided decisions.

Postpartum Depression/Perinatal Anxiety

Behavioral activation, attachment‑sensitive CBT, and support planning.

Grief and Adjustment

Meaning‑making, routines, and gentle exposure to reminders.

Health Anxiety (Youth)

Reassurance plans, graded steps, and caregiver coaching.

PMDD: Partner Guide

Validation, planning by cycle, and supportive prompts.

Perimenopause Anxiety

Symptom tracking, balanced appraisals, and sleep supports.

OCD — Subtypes

ERP principles with subtype‑specific examples.

OCD — Contamination

Touch/delay wash; build tolerance and safety learning.

OCD — Checking

One‑check exposures; reduce reassurance and photos.

OCD — Harm

Approach feared cues; non‑neutralizing script exposures.

OCD — Symmetry/Ordering

Misalignment exposures and flexible responding.

OCD — Taboo Thoughts

Script exposures and response prevention for mental rituals.

Complex PTSD Considerations

Phased approach: stabilization, processing, integration.

Substance Use — By Substance

Differences across alcohol, opioids, stimulants, cannabis, nicotine.

Trichotillomania (BFRB)

HRT: awareness, competing responses, stimulus control.

Excoriation Disorder (Skin‑Picking)

HRT + stimulus control; quick coping logs.

OCD — Scrupulosity

Uncertainty practice; limit confession/reassurance.

OCD — Relationship (ROCD)

Tolerate uncertainty; reduce checking; values actions.

Emetophobia

Word→image→video exposures; interoceptive practice.

ARFID

Profile‑based, graded food exposures; caregiver coaching.

Agoraphobia (± Panic)

Situational + interoceptive exposures; safety fades.

Prolonged Grief Disorder

Approach reminders; meaning; routines and support.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Attention shift, stress skills, values exposures.

Gambling Disorder

Trigger mapping, blocks/barriers, alternative rewards.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Graded separations, reduce accommodation, school routines.

Selective Mutism (Youth)

Graded speaking tasks and caregiver coaching.

Performance Anxiety

Exposure, attention training, and skills routines.

Medical & Dental Phobias

Graded medical/dental exposures; applied tension.

Misophonia CBT Coping

Sound-trigger mapping, exposure ladders, and opposite‑action prompts.

Acute Stress Disorder

Stabilization, grounding, and gradual approach.

Moral Injury (Adjunctive)

Values, compassionate reframing, and repair steps.

DV Survivors — Safety‑First Supports

Stabilization skills; connect with local resources.

Post‑Concussion Symptoms

Pacing, attention shift, sleep/stress supports.

PPPD (Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness)

Vestibular exposures, grounding drills, and motion logs.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Activation, restructuring, and values routines.

PMS Coping

Cycle tracking, balanced appraisals, routines.

Perinatal OCD

ERP within safety plans and caregiver support.

Cyclothymic Disorder (Adjunctive)

Rhythm stabilization and relapse planning.

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS)

Prodrome monitoring, coping routines, and graded scheduling.

OCD — Sexual Orientation (SO‑OCD)

Tolerate uncertainty; reduce checking/comparison.

Functional Neurological Disorder

Attention retraining, pacing, values engagement.

Tinnitus Distress

Attention shift, sound enrichment, reappraisal.

Chronic Fatigue/Long‑COVID

Pacing, chunking, and gentle routines.

Diabetes Distress & Adherence

Problem‑solving, routines, and compassionate self‑talk.

Nightmare Disorder (IRT)

Rescript and rehearse new endings; sleep routines.

Circadian Rhythm Disorders

Anchor wake; light timing; wind‑down.

Teen Sleep Phase Delay

School‑aligned wake anchors and morning light.

Anorexia Nervosa (CBT‑E)

Regular eating, exposure, body image work.

Body Checking Module

Limit checks; mirror retraining; exposures.

Muscle Dysmorphia

Exposure; ritual reduction; broaden values.

Post‑Bariatric Adjustment

Routines, urge coping, body image care.

Gaming/Tech Use

Triggers, friction, alternative rewards.

Cannabis Use Disorder

Delay/urge surfing, context change.

Nicotine Cessation

Cue control, delay/distract, replacement.

Relapse Prevention Skills

High‑risk maps, coping, supports.

Autism + Anxiety

Visuals, concrete steps, caregiver support.

Tics/Tourette (CBIT)

Awareness, competing response, function.

School Refusal

Graded returns, reduce accommodation.

Oppositional Patterns (PMT+CBT)

Praise, consistent limits, problem‑solving.

Social Communication Anxiety

Scripts, role‑play, feedback.

Psychosis (CBTp)

Coping; stress/sleep; relapse plans.

Negative Symptoms Activation

Cueing; tiny steps; social contact.

Family Psychoeducation

Shared language; problem‑solving; plans.

Safety Planning

Warning signs; coping; supports.

Infertility/IVF Anxiety

Uncertainty, cycle‑based coping, values.

Cancer Survivorship Anxiety

Uncertainty tolerance; values; plans.

Caregiver Burden/Burnout

Problem‑solving, boundaries, values time.

Bereavement by Suicide

Compassionate meaning; routines; contact.

Workplace Stress/Burnout

Rebalance; boundaries; recovery blocks.

Teen Sexual Assault CBT

TF-CBT aligned prompts for survivors rebuilding safety plans and self-trust.

Adoption Trauma CBT

Attachment-aware prompts for adoptees and foster youth working through loss and identity shifts.

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More coming

We’re continuously expanding this library and refining guides with clinician feedback.

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