Editing Cognitive behavioral therapy (section)

===Cognitive distortions===
Therapists use CBT techniques to help people challenge their patterns and beliefs and replace errors in thinking, known as [[cognitive distortions]] with "more realistic and effective thoughts, thus decreasing emotional distress and self-defeating behavior".<ref name="HassettAL" /> Cognitive distortions can be either a pseudo-discrimination belief{{Clarify|date=October 2023}} or an overgeneralization of something.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Dawes RM |date=April 1964 |title=Cognitive Distortion: Monograph Supplement 4-V14 |journal=Psychological Reports |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=443–459 |doi=10.2466/pr0.1964.14.2.443 |s2cid=144381210}}</ref> CBT techniques may also be used to help individuals take a more open, mindful, and aware posture toward cognitive distortions so as to diminish their impact.<ref name="HayesSC" />

Mainstream CBT helps individuals replace "maladaptive... coping skills, cognitions, emotions and behaviors with more adaptive ones",<ref name="GatchelRJ" /> by challenging an individual's way of thinking and the way that they react to certain habits or behaviors,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_0_pRyy9McQC |title=Fundamentals of nursing: concepts, process and practice |vauthors=Kozier B |publisher=Pearson Education |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-13-197653-5 |page=187}}</ref> but there is still controversy about the degree to which these traditional cognitive elements account for the effects seen with CBT over and above the earlier behavioral elements such as exposure and skills training.<ref name="LongmoreRJ">{{cite journal |vauthors=Longmore RJ, Worrell M |date=March 2007 |title=Do we need to challenge thoughts in cognitive behavior therapy? |journal=Clinical Psychology Review |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=173–187 |doi=10.1016/j.cpr.2006.08.001 |pmid=17157970}}</ref>