On the surface, self-assessment and trying to think positively have much in common with what the Torah espouses. We also engage in self-assessment and endeavor to improve ourselves - but don't be fooled. There are many partial-truths but only One Absolute Truth - what the Torah prescribes for anxiety, depression, and other emotional problems is as different from CBT as a building that is built to last and one that is doomed to topple to the ground - they may appear alike but they are not.

First of all what are the "more reasonable and adaptive" thoughts, and beliefs that cognitive therapists would like you to have? Secondly, dear reader, do you really believe that after your 10 to 15 sessions of CBT are over that you - alone - will be able to triumph over the powerful forces of evil that incessantly attack your thoughts seeking to sadden you and cause you fear?

Cognitive Therapy like all secular psychotherapies ignores the fundamental nature of man and therefore offers "solutions" that are not likely to last in this world and certainly can do nothing to rectify the soul of a person in distress. The Talmud defines man as "the creature who prays." [...] Since it is our fundamental nature to worship G-d - science not only leads us away from Hashem, it leads us away from ourselves. There is no lasting help without Divine assistance and CBT is a therapy without a G-d. How can we ever expect to find our purpose and ultimate happiness in a therapy that ignores our basic nature?

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Cognitive psychology looks good and true. It certainly appears to have many advantages over Freudian psychology which is filled with blatant heresy but it does not. Here is the crucial point - behavioral science will take you off course because it divorces itself from morality and Hashem. Anything less than the full Truth causes cracks in the foundation of your life. One falsehood leads to another - the cracks widen - and tragedy results - G-d forbid. "Falsehood does not last", says our Holy Talmud.