CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a structured, time-limited form of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. CBT is first-line evidence-based treatment for depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, OCD, and insomnia. A standard course is 12-20 weekly sessions.

Cultural adaptations of CBT for Black patients have been studied since the 1990s. A 2016 meta-analysis (Hall et al., PMID 27993346, 78 studies and 13,998 participants) found culturally adapted psychotherapy more effective than non-adapted CBT or wait-list controls for Black, Latino, and Asian American patients. See our Hall 2016 meta-analysis explainer.