Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an approach that focuses on early and direct identification of cognitive distortions. Then, the patient is coached towards developing clear plans on how to correct them.
A cognitive distortion can be described in many ways. A more traditional definition is to say that a person is "perceiving reality incorrectly". However, that definition has always, to me, read as if the person is actively choosing to not believe reality.
Another description would be to say a cognitive distortion is an assumption that is made automatically and constantly. If a person then goes on to make their life plans based on assumptions, then those plans may not be accurate or helpful. They might even be harmful if those assumptions are directly at odds with facts they do not or cannot acknowledge.
For example, if a person has a strong automatic assumption that no one will ever like them, then they may not try to meet new people or reach out to those people they have already met. This would lead to more time in isolation, and the person will further assume that no one likes them.
Overall, one could argue CBT is reliant on self-observation and a willingness and motivation to try to problem solve different life approaches, because established behaviors have become maladaptive or unwanted.
The directness of this approach lends itself to putting boundaries on the length of treatment. Many clinics that offer CBT say that the course of treatment is 15-20 sessions focused on a particular cognitive distortion and its related behavior. In reality though, the session number may change based on the patient's burden of cognitive distortions and how much work there is to do.
In session, cleanly provided CBT can sometimes have a more class or interactive tutoring feel. This is because each session is designed to help the patient develop new ways to approach their thoughts and behaviors. The patient knows themselves best and provides the raw information. The therapist provides a more objective perspective combined with the experience of working with many many people on similar challenges. At the end of each session, the patient will likely have a couple of new insights into their thinking, and also a small homework list of new things to try until their next session.
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