Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Course

Free Course by Everything IFS Academy | Therapeutic Modalities Series

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Welcome to the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Course for Everyday People (professionals & non-professionals)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, grew out of the cognitive therapy that psychiatrist Aaron Beck founded in the 1960s, joined with the behavioral tradition that completes its name. It is the most thoroughly researched form of modern psychotherapy and is widely regarded as the field's gold standard. Its central insight is refreshingly down-to-earth: that it is largely our interpretation of events, rather than the events themselves, that shapes how we feel and what we do.

This course teaches pure CBT, with no other modalities blended in, written in plain, relatable language anyone can follow, whether you work in the field or have never set foot in a therapy room. It isn't clinical training for therapists; it's CBT you can put to use in your own life. From the very beginning, CBT was designed to be learned and applied, so that over time you become, in a real sense, your own therapist. Each module offers clear teaching, real-life examples, and the practical tools, techniques, and strategies CBT is known for, and every lesson ends with a simple practice so you can begin using the skill right away.

This course is self-paced, with no tests, exams, or homework. Feel free to go through it in order, or jump around to whatever interests you most.

Course outline

Click any lesson below to begin.

Orientation Module 1 — What is CBT? Module 2 — Who is Aaron Beck? Module 3 — The cognitive model

Core Teachings Module 4 — Cognitive distortions Module 5 — Socratic questioning and guided discovery Module 6 — Cognitive restructuring Module 7 — Thought records Module 8 — The downward arrow and core beliefs Module 9 — Behavioral activation Module 10 — Behavioral experiments Module 11 — Graded exposure Module 12 — Problem-solving and worry management

Closing Module 13 — Using CBT in everyday life

Bonus Bonus module — The ABC and ABCDE models

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Disclaimer: Everything IFS Academy is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the IFS Institute. These courses, lessons, skills, and practices are offered for educational and self-reflection purposes only. They do not constitute therapy, mental health treatment, clinical training, or crisis support, and they should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care.

Crisis Support 🚨 If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, feel unsafe, feel at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or feel too overwhelmed to safely use self-directed practices, please pause this material and reach out for immediate support. Contact a licensed mental health professional, call or text 988 in the U.S. or Canada, or use your local emergency or crisis resources.