Cognitive behavioural therapy is a short-term and structured therapy used to treat mental

health issues by focusing on problem solving and targeting dysfunctional thoughts and behaviours.

In a society where mental health concerns are increasing, it is important to equip ourselves

with a workforce that can deal with these concerns adeptly. While there are several therapies that

are commonly used in psychotherapy, why should CBT be a choice for the upcoming youth aspiring

to pursue psychology? To keep it simple, it is because CBT is an evidence based therapy. There has

been a lot of research in the past and several ongoing, which point to the empirical evidence show

casing the effectiveness of CBT for several disorders. Not only is CBT showing results for the

treatment of mental health disorders, but it can also be used for self-development which is some

thing we can all invest in as individuals for better personal and professional functioning.

CBT can be an effective tool when working as a clinical psychologist, a counsellor, a social

worker, a psychiatrist, a nurse or even as a teacher. As mental health professionals, an essential

point to keep in mind is that specialising in one therapy can really help understand what works and

what doesn’t for your client. When using an eclectic approach, it might be difficult to single out the

same. As CBT is an evidence based approach, it make this identification process simpler.

As per the Beck Institute, an article from Kiplinger website named CBT as the 13th most

promising career choice in the coming decade. While this article dates back to the year 2010, in a

country like India where mental health and related services are still catching up, becoming a CBT

therapist can be quite promising. CBT is an approach that can be applied to various settings for the

self and others.