Question
You have heard the terms cognitive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and behavioral therapy. What are the differences among these three things?
Answer
"If one were to view both behavior and cognitive therapies as opposite ends of a spectrum, then cognitive-behavioral theory is somewhere in between. " Taken from http://www.drkot.com/whatare.html
Cognitive therapy involves a professional listening and understanding the beliefs of a patient. It may involve the patient cultivating new opinions that are constructive and valid as certain maladaptive cognitions can harmful to the patient.
Cognitive behavioral therapy subsumes cognitive therapy. To learn about the differences between CT and CBT, see these two postings:
https://beckinstitute.org/does-cognitive-therapy-cognitive-behavior-therapy/
An example of CBT would be for a therapist to use caffeine wisely as opposed to excessively (pages 75 and 76 of Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Insomnia).
Behavioral therapy involves modifying the environment. Behavioral therapy has nothing to do with changing attitudes to more valid, constructive beliefs. An example of behavioral therapy to treat insomnia would be to control the amount of stimulus received in the bedroom (taken from page 12 of Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Insomnia).
For books that highlight iatrogenic effects of medicine or medical treatment, see these:
The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct Paperback – February 23, 2010 by Thomas S. Szasz (Author)
Medical Nemesis by Ivan Illich
"No small art is it to sleep: it is necessary for that purpose to keep awake all day." (Taken from page 36 of Thus Spake Zarathustra (Squid Classics 2017)).