Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a goal-oriented style of therapy that focuses on changing the way you think about, and react to, challenging events. 

CBT empowers you with the "observer mind" so that you can examine your own automatic thoughts and reactions that keep you stuck.

By replacing your reactive thoughts and behaviors with informed, positive responses, you gain more control over your life, which leads to more satisfaction and less stress. 

Learn more about how CBT works in my blog post, The ABCs of CBT

CBT is goal-oriented and generally shorter term than other therapies. It teaches you tools to use in the real world to manage emotions. CBT therapists also typically give homework between sessions. 

Some therapies, such as psychodynamic therapy, spend time analyzing formative childhood events. 

While gaining insight into one's past can be helpful, CBT focuses more on the present and future.

There are many styles of therapy, and one is not necessarily better than the other. It really depends on what you want to achieve in therapy.

CBT is shorter term and more solution-focused than other types of therapy.

For example, if you're wanting to process events from childhood, psychodynamic therapies may be more your style. 

As the name implies, CBT focuses on changing your thoughts (cognitive) and your habits and actions (behaviorial). 

CBT often assigns behavioral experiments to try between therapy sessions, such as being more assertive with friends or family.

Overall, CBT has been shown to be quite effective for numerous issues.

Whle it's hard to predict exactly how long any type of therapy will take, CBT is a short-term style of therapy. It is goal-oriented and therapy usually ends once goals are met. 

That said, CBT lasts as long it takes for the changes you want to be firmly established.

Some clients choose to do regular follow-up sessions on a monthly or quarterly basis to maintain their gains made in therapy.