CBT for Anxiety and Depression: The ‘Gold Standard’ of Therapy or A Convenient Illusion?

Despite being widely regarded as the gold standard in psychotherapy, CBT’s dominance invites critical re-evaluation. This article explores whether CBT’s popularity stems from genuine clinical effectiveness or systemic convenience. It explores CBT’s origins and policy-driven expansion, while highlighting concerns over the robustness of its supporting evidence. The piece argues that CBT’s success may reflect alignment with policy priorities more than universal therapeutic efficacy.