Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches people to challenge negative thought patterns and turn less often to unhelpful behaviors. These strategies can improve your mood and the way you respond to challenging situations: a flat tire, looming deadlines, family life ups and downs.Yet there's much more depth and nuance to this well-researched form of psychotherapy. It has proven effective for treating anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. Tailored versions of CBT can also help people cope with insomnia, chronic pain, and other nonpsychiatric conditions. And it can help in managing difficult life experiences, such as divorce or relationship problems.What are the key components of CBT?One important aspect of CBT relates to perspective, says psychologist Jennifer Burbridge, assistant director of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital."Therapists who practice CBT don't see the problems or symptoms people describe as having one single cause, but rather as a combination of underlying causes," she says. These includebiological or genetic factorspsychological issues (your thoughts, physical sensations, and behaviors)social factors (your environment and relationships).Each of these factors contributes to — and helps maintain — the troublesome issues that might prompt you to seek therapy, she explains.