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ABCT Board Statements

ABCT Committees
Acknowledging Maui Acknowledging Maui - Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by this unimaginable loss and the aftermath they are now experiencing.
ABCT Stands with APA in condemning Florida Schools Censorship of AP Psychology ABCT Stands with APA in condemning Florida Schools Censorship of AP Psychology - ABCT stands with the American Psychological Association in condemning Florida schools for failing to offer its students AP Psychology coursework that recognizes decades+ of science on sexual orientation and gender identity.
ABCT Stands with the APA in Denouncing the SCOTUS Decision on Affirmative Action ABCT Stands with the APA in Denouncing the SCOTUS Decision on Affirmative Action - Here at ABCT, we stand with the American Psychological Association (APA) in denouncing the Supreme Court’s decision on the use of race in college admissions decisions.
Fighting So-Called “Conversion Therapy” Fighting So-Called “Conversion Therapy” - ABCT joins the USJS to establish professional standards among healthcare professionals who reject “conversion therapy.”
ABCT’s Statement on Women’s History Month ABCT’s Statement on Women’s History Month - Dorothy Susskind, a cofounder of ABCT and the first woman in the organization, was a trailblazer in the field of the behavioral and cognitive therapies.
ABCT Board of Directors Statement Regarding the Hyatt ABCT Board of Directors Statement Regarding the Hyatt - The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) was informed of a recent incident involving the Hyatt Regency Denver and National Association of School Psychologists and their President Dr. Celeste Malone.
Heartbroken and Angry Heartbroken and Angry - We reaffirm our commitment as an organization to provide resources to those struggling from the impact of gun violence and loss.
How ABCT is Addressing So-Called Conversion Therapy Articles and Research Causing Harm to Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals How ABCT is Addressing So-Called Conversion Therapy Articles and Research Causing Harm to Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals - ABCT is committed to the work of reducing the harms from previously published articles focusing on changing individuals who are members of sexual and gender minority groups. The Board is actively outlining proactive steps to guide and energize our systematic efforts in this area.
A Message From Our President A Message From Our President - After we issued the apology, ABCT’s Board of Directors, like many of you, began discussing what to do next to minimize future harms related to the practice and dissemination of SOGIECEs.
Striving to Do More Striving to Do More - Cognitive behavior therapy has much to offer the world in scary times. We must remember our theories and our interventions have implications outside the therapy room and we must strive to do more as we hold ourselves to the highest standards to practice in a way that best serves our communities
ABCT Apology for Behavior Therapy’s Contribution to the Development and Practice of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Change Efforts ABCT Apology for Behavior Therapy’s Contribution to the Development and Practice of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Change Efforts - The ABCT Board of Directors and past leadership have released an apology for behavior therapy’s contributions to the development and practice of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression change efforts.
Limiting Access to Women’s Rights to Healthcare Detrimental to Mental Health and Wellbeing Limiting Access to Women’s Rights to Healthcare Detrimental to Mental Health and Wellbeing - The negative impact on the mental health of women who are denied abortion is well-documented in psychological literature.
ABCT Condemns the Florida Legislature’s Attack on LGBTQ+ Youth ABCT Condemns the Florida Legislature’s Attack on LGBTQ+ Youth - ABCT's Board of Directors stands with the Sexual and Gender Minority SIG in condemning the Florida legislature’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
“It’s OK Not to Be OK” “It’s OK Not to Be OK” - “Athletes like Simone Biles should be congratulated for speaking out about their health struggles,” says ABCT President Dr. David Tolin.
ABCT Statement on Racism and Discrimination ABCT Statement on Racism and Discrimination - ABCT is outraged by the murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others at the hands of police officers and broader law enforcement, healthcare, and many other societal systems that devalue Black lives.
Potential for Positive Change Potential for Positive Change - The leadership and staff of ABCT acknowledge the potential for positive change as a result of the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.
Stopping AAPI Hate Stopping AAPI Hate - Staff woke up to the news of another anti-AAPI hate crime this morning. We can’t fix hate or bigotry, but we have resources that might help you deal its aftershocks.
Condemning Violence Against the AAPI Community Condemning Violence Against the AAPI Community - ABCT joined the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) in condemning violence against the AAPI community.
ABCT Statement on COVID-19 ABCT Statement on COVID-19 - We at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies want to reassure you that concern and worry are normal and adaptive during a pandemic.
Condemning Violence Against the AAPI Community in North America Condemning Violence Against the AAPI Community in North America - ABCT expresses its support for the Asian American Psychological Association’s (AAPA) recent statement condemning violence against the AAPI community.

Related Information

Suggested Resources

What Is Cognitive Behavior Therapy?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a type of treatment that is based firmly on research findings.  It places emphasis on changing your cognitions (thoughts) or behaviors (actions) in order to effect change in how you feel. These approaches help people in achieving specific changes or goals.

Changes or goals might involve:

A way of acting: like smoking less or being more outgoing;
A way of feeling: like helping a person to be less scared, less depressed, or less anxious;
A way of thinking: like learning to problem-solve or get rid of self-defeating thoughts;
A way of dealing with physical or medical problems: like reducing back pain or helping a person stick to a doctor’s suggestions.

Cognitive behavioral therapists usually focus more on the current situation and its solution, rather than the past. They concentrate on a person’s views and beliefs about their life. CBT is an effective treatment for individuals, parents, children, couples, and families. The goal of CBT is to help people improve and gain more control over their lives by changing behaviors that don’t work well to ones that do.

How to Get Help

If you are looking for help, either for yourself or someone else, you may be tempted to call someone who advertises in a local publication or who comes up from a search of the Internet. You may, or may not, find a competent therapist in this manner. It is wise to check on the credentials of a psychotherapist. It is expected that competent therapists hold advanced academic degrees. They should be listed as members of professional organizations, such as the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies or the American Psychological Association. Of course, they should be licensed to practice in your state. You can find competent specialists who are affiliated with local universities or mental health facilities or who are listed on the websites of professional organizations. You may, of course, visit our website (www.abct.org) and click on “Find a CBT Therapist”

The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) is an interdisciplinary organization committed to the advancement of a scientific approach to the understanding and amelioration of problems of the human condition. These aims are achieved through the investigation and application of behavioral, cognitive, and other evidence-based principles to assessment, prevention, and treatment.