IntroductionCognitive therapy (CT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are a type of psychotherapeutic treatment that helps clients better understand and discover their feelings and thoughts that can influence their behavior. Cognitive therapy aims to treat a wide range of disorders, such as depression, anxiety, addictions and phobias. Cognitive therapy focuses on treating a client's specific problem and its therapeutic style is short-term. While clients are in therapy, they are guided in how to identify and correct disruptive thought patterns that negatively influence their behavior. Brief Description Cognitive therapy was “developed by Aaron T. Beck in the late 1960s” (Murdock, 2013, p. 314). Before Aaron T. Beck, there were Pavlov, Skinner, Watson and Eysenck. “These therapists were among those who first developed cognitive behavioral therapy as a valid form of treatment” (Sarah, 2013). The term "cognitive therapy" is often used as a general label for a number of systems that emphasize the role of cognition in dysfunction and intervention" and may be interchangeable with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (Murdock, 2013, p. 314). CT is an approach that a counselor can use to help a client change dysfunctional behaviors and thoughts into realistic, healthy behaviors. CT encompasses different types of therapeutic techniques that focus on the impact of a client's thinking. Other models include Rational Emotional Behavior Therapy (REBT), Commitment and Acceptance Therapy (ACT), to name a few. One thing these branches of therapy have in common is that the individual's thoughts are linked to external behaviors and feelings. What causes negative behaviors, feelings, or thoughts is the perception...... middle of article ...... of this research was that Mexican American women showed a "positive attitude toward the CBT program- GSH and a desire to engage” (Shea, Cachelink, Uribe, Stiegel, Thompson, 2012). ConclusionIn conclusion, CT is generally a short-term approach, goal-oriented in its structure and collaboration between counselor and client. The main goal of CT is to teach the client, through a variety of tools, to become their own counselor or therapist. Essentially, the counselor gives the client the tools to change negative thoughts and behavior. The tools used in this theory are unique. The tools consist of homework, guided discovery, relaxation and exposure to the issues and then their response. Through multiple research across different races, ages, genders and sexual orientations, CT scanning has been proven to lead to success for a healthier mental and physical life..