We hear about mental health more than ever these days. But there’s still a stigma associated with going to therapy that’s related to outdated stereotypes.
In reality, the most widely used therapy approach—cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT—is data-driven, practical, and proven to be effective.
In fact, CBT is such an effective tool that health care providers are using it for much more than mental health disorders. Today, the tools learned in CBT are helping patients manage everything from chronic pain to sleep problems to heart disease and more.
Mental health services available in primary care
CBT is most commonly used:
- to treat mental health issues such as anxiety and depression,
- for patients with developmental issues like ADHD, to build self-management strategies, and
- to teach people stress management skills.
For patients with mental health issues like these, the primary care providers at WWMG’s Family Medicine locations* can refer patients to an in-clinic behavioral health provider through the Collaborative Care model.
In fact, many patients can receive a full course of CBT through their primary care clinic, increasing convenience and access to mental health services.
CBT for sleep issues
Sleep Medicine clinics may refer patients with insomnia for CBT. Up to 80% of patients who pursue cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) see improved sleep, often in as few as six sessions with a CBT-I therapist.
CBT for insomnia addresses stimulus control, which relates to sleep hygiene. CBT-I may include sleep restriction, a technique that increases sleep drive by temporarily limiting the amount of time spent in bed.
CBT-I patients also receive relaxation training, where they learn techniques such as:
- breathing exercises
- progressive muscle relaxation, or even
- self-hypnosis.
CBT for patients with heart disease
CBT cannot reduce arterial plaque or regulate a person’s heart rhythm. However, it is an effective complementary treatment for patients with heart disease because the link between mental health and heart health is deeply interconnected.
A patient’s cardiologist will recommend CBT to help them cope with the psychological impacts of living with a chronic illness. In addition, it helps patients learn how to manage psychosocial factors, such as anger and social isolation, that can put individuals at higher risk of having a cardiovascular event.
CBT also helps to improve patients’ cardiac outcomes by addressing barriers to managing the disease, like making necessary lifestyle changes. This could include taking medications consistently as prescribed, and implementing their doctor’s dietary and exercise recommendations.
Pulmonary disease and CBT
WWMG pulmonary doctors may recommend CBT in the treatment of pulmonary disease, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
COPD and other lung conditions are associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression, which can impact health outcomes.
In addition, COPD causes shortness of breath that can produce a panic response in some patients. CBT can help COPD patients learn to overcome this panic response as well as manage their anxiety and depression.
CBT for pain management
When a person experiences pain, it generally signals an underlying physical problem that shouldn’t be ignored. For acute conditions, medication is usually required to reduce pain.
But for many people, pain is a chronic condition that can’t be eliminated through medication only. Physiatrists and orthopedic specialists may also refer their patients out for CBT.
CBT can help patients to develop pain management strategies, including:
- Pain perception – CBT can reduce pain perception by building coping skills that can change the way a person thinks about pain.
- Avoidance behaviors – Fear of pain can cause many people to engage in counterproductive behaviors, such as avoiding necessary exercise. CBT can help patients overcome these avoidant behaviors, leading to reduced pain over time.
Gastroenterology conditions and CBT
Gut-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (GI CBT) is a type of therapy for gastrointestinal conditions such as IBS. It focuses on the connection between the brain and the gut, teaching patients skills to manage their symptoms, like:
- relaxation techniques
- challenging unhelpful thoughts, and
- reducing avoidance behaviors.
Gastroenterologists may also refer patients for CBT to help them manage the mental health impacts of a GI diagnosis– such as shame, grief, fatigue, and fear– as well as helping them develop pain- and stress-management strategies.
CBT for cancer patients
A cancer diagnosis is stressful and frightening, so much so that for nearly a third of patients, it can result in psychological disorders including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. Integrating mental health support with a patient’s cancer treatment can lead to better outcomes.
In addition to helping cancer patients manage the mental health challenges that often accompany a cancer diagnosis, CBT can also help them manage the pain and fatigue experienced during treatment.
Caregivers and those who are close to cancer patients can also suffer psychological impacts from a loved ones’ diagnosis, and may benefit from CBT.
CBT for tinnitus
Because there is no cure for tinnitus, treatment must focus on management. For patients with chronic tinnitus, CBT is effective for helping them manage the distress and discomfort of constantly ringing ears.
Audiologists will refer a patient for CBT, not to reduce the perceived noise, but to enable the patient to avoid lifestyle disruptions such as difficulty sleeping, and to overcome negative emotions such as fear and frustration that may come from coping with this incurable, irritating condition.
How cognitive behavioral therapy works
CBT is a form of talk therapy based on the idea that a person can learn how to change harmful behaviors into new ones that are helpful.
So, for example, depression often causes patients to isolate themselves – a behavior that worsens the condition. CBT teaches patients how to notice when this happens and take steps to break the harmful cycle of isolation.
In order to be effective, CBT is a collaborative process that requires:
- strong rapport between the patient and provider
- honest engagement, and
- dedicated effort.
For the patient, directly confronting their own preconceptions about stressful topics (such as chronic health conditions) can be uncomfortable and overwhelming. But that’s where the support of a caring provider can help.
Effectiveness of CBT
Compared to other types of therapy, CBT tends to be an intensive treatment process that many patients complete within a few months. If CBT is causing the patient emotional turmoil, it is important for them to discuss this with their healthcare provider.
In many cases, patients can see noticeable improvement from CBT alone, but when necessary, it can be practiced in tandem with medication treatment.
CBT has been shown to be at least as effective as other forms of therapy for mental health issues, with benefits that are comparable to medication. But in recent years, health care providers have learned that for health issues that cannot be solved with medication, CBT can be an even more valuable form of treatment.
Getting support for your mental and physical health
Because a person’s physical health directly affects their mental health (and vice-versa), treatment that supports both the body and mind can improve patient health outcomes.
CBT is increasingly becoming a standard part of treatment for many health conditions. At WWMG, patients can receive CBT through their primary care clinic* or may be referred to WWMG Psychology for additional support.
If you need mental health support or are interested in CBT, start by requesting an appointment with WWMG Family Medicine today.
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* Through the Collaborative Care Model, WWMG patients can receive mental health services in their primary care clinic at these locations:
- Whitehorse Family Medicine, Arlington
- Marysville Family Medicine
- This program will be expanding to Marysville, Everett, and Lynnwood in Fall 2026