Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapy that is based on the theory that dysfunctional thoughts cause psychological issues. CBT aims to modify these dysfunctional thoughts through identifying and challenging automatic negative thoughts and core beliefs. Therapists use cognitive conceptualization and strategies to help patients recognize cognitive distortions, generate alternative thoughts, and test new beliefs through homework assignments between sessions. The goals of CBT are to challenge unhelpful thoughts, identify less threatening alternatives, and change underlying assumptions through homework aimed at producing changes outside of sessions.