A course for those who want to understand how cognitive behavioral therapy works — one of the most scientifically grounded methods in modern psychology.
We will examine why thoughts influence feelings and behavior, and how this can be used in practice and in everyday life.
Step by step — from ideas and philosophy to specific tools for changing thinking and behavior.

Course Topics

• The philosophy of cognitive behavioral therapy and its roots in Buddhism, Stoicism, and Daoism.
• How CBT sessions are conducted.
• Causes of psychological problems and methods for working with them.
• Assessment and modification of beliefs.
• Therapeutic thinking and practice. Cases and techniques.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you will:

• Understand why emotional reactions arise;
• Learn how to reduce their intensity and change established habits of perception;
• Understand how cognitive behavioral techniques work;
• Learn to manage your thinking and emotions;
• Master tools that make life more conscious and resilient.

Final Project / Assessment Format

A presentation of 5–7 slides or an essay of 2–4 pages, in which the student demonstrates an understanding of the principles and logic of CBT, agreed upon with the lecturer.

Examples of Course Project Topics

• Creating a cognitive conceptualization using characters as examples.
• Keeping classic CBT diaries based on scenes from films.
• Identifying dominant thinking errors and developing recommendations for correcting them.
• Creating disputation plans for irrational beliefs.
• Essay: how changing beliefs leads to changes in behavior.
• Essay: how I can integrate CBT into my work process.