I think CBT seems to have evolved a lot the last few decades and often started including tools from therapies like DBT and ACT such as mindfulness and acceptance so it might have become more flexible and helpful for more people than ”old school” CBT. But I never had any CBT so I can’t say for sure.

I'm an adaptive CBT therapist and I'm also autistic who has experienced pure CBT and I agree that CBT by the book can be gaslighting for people and also can cause shame if something doesn't wrong which then feeds into the message something is very wrong with you Adapting it to each individual using monotropism, SPELL, ACT and other various frameworks can really help but even then sometimes it is jusy being heard and accepted and understanding your own needs more to help advocate for yourself 🫶

ND here. I’ve had good and bad CBT (and REBT). But in general, CBT with the right therapist legitimately made a bigger difference in my perfectionism issues than any other form of therapy to the point that *I don’t struggle with it now*. It can be challenging, but learning my thoughts didn’t have to be facts, having skill steps to CLEARLY follow- it put me in the drivers seat & gave me agency in my life I didn’t have before.

It’s working for me! But I have been pushing to have access to it for over five years, so I truly appreciate it. I am occasionally frustrated by her focusing on “the wrong thing”, in my mind, but I have also learned and made valuable changes based on things she has told me that I truly needed to hear. I find that for me consciously having an open and considering approach is incredibly helpful.

CBT is way too surface-level for most people’s issues.

CBT was not helpful for me, DBT was way more useful, but somatic and EMDR therapy worked best. (AuDHD, CPTSD, late diagnosised [35] AFAB) I got very lucky with my first therapist, and from what I hear that can make or break the experience.

No one is actually neurotypical. The standard, the "typical", is completely made up.

I seen a CBT therapist maybe 3 times to get me out of the suicidal ideation phase off my life. It was exactly what I needed. I never considered it gaslighting. I see a different type of therapist now tho. Like anything, not everything is right for each person. This style might benefit some and not others. I always say therapy is also like dating. You might break up with a few before you find your person who is the right fit to help you.

I disagree with the framing of this question

I can honestly say as a late diagnoses auDHDer that CBT and traditional medications for depression and mood disorders do absolutely nothing more than a temporary placebo effect for me. I've tried these treatments a dozen times at least. Every time I'm in CBT it just becomes a lesson in masking harder and gaslighting myself. Every. Time. They think I'm making such progress but I'm just figuring out how to mask convincingly for them.