Which therapeutic technique is commonly used in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive restructuring is a key therapeutic technique within cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that focuses on identifying and challenging distorted thought patterns. This technique helps individuals recognize negative or unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more balanced, realistic ones. By restructuring these cognitive distortions, clients can alter emotional responses and behaviors associated with those thoughts, leading to improved mental health outcomes.

In contrast, some of the other options represent techniques more commonly associated with different therapeutic modalities. Mindfulness meditation is often utilized in mindfulness-based therapies, family mapping is a technique more aligned with family therapy approaches, and solution finding is typically used in solution-focused brief therapy. Each of these methods serves distinct therapeutic purposes, but they do not specifically embody the principles central to cognitive-behavioral therapy as effectively as cognitive restructuring does.