“What is the difference between cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy?”

There really is no such thing as "cognitive" therapy, most therapies integrate aspects of a person's thinking, feeling and behavioral domains in the change process. An effective approach teaches people they are multidimensional and treatment approaches and goals address the whole person.

Cognitive therapy is a treatment modality that focuses on one's perceptions and thinking. It challenges the way one thinks to help change problematic thought processes.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy combines Cognitive Therapy with Behavioral Therapy and is used to help individuals address problematic thinking that results in problematic behaviors.

It is variation of the the same treatment. Cognitive therapy focuses more on thought processes and CBT encompasses thoughts and behaviors.

The main difference between the two is that cognitive therapy focuses on eliminating psychological distress, while cognitive-behavioral therapy targets the elimination of negative behavior too.

The most common usage of the term cognitive therapy is to mean cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Used in this way, both terms refer to a form of psychotherapy in which one focuses on certain thoughts or interpretations of events that lead to troublesome emotions or behaviors. By changing certain patterns of thinking about events and oneself, this therapy aims to change the resulting emotional reactions and behaviors.



Sometimes the term cognitive therapy has been used to refer to rational-emotive therapy or to cognitive remediation. Rational-emotive therapy is similar to cognitive behavior therapy in its emphasis on directly changing thought patterns, but it focuses on improving rational thinking rather than on certain automatic thought patterns. Cognitive remediation is quite different. It uses training of cognitive skills, often through computerized exercises, to strengthen abilities in areas such as attention, memory, problem solving, and management of emotions.



Keith Nuechterlein, Ph.D.

Pretty much the same no matter what anyone tells you. It’s all about how we see the things and how others see us and how we effect those around us

Here is a link that will help address your question:
https://beckinstitute.org/does-cognitive-therapy-cognitive-behavior-therapy/