Can cognitive behavioral therapy be value-free and politically neutral?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been portrayed as a scientifically grounded and value-neutral form of psychotherapy. This paper argues that such normative neutrality is impossible. Drawing on arguments from philosophy of science, ethics, semantics, and professional regulations, the paper demonstrates that psychotherapy inevitably involves normative commitments. Hempel's analysis of scientific explanation, the Humean is-ought distinction, the Duhem-Quine thesis, unavoidable evaluative features of language, value-guided therapeutic change, and professional ethical codes all demonstrate that CBT necessarily operates within a framework of ethical and political values. Thus, it is unreasonable to call for value or political neutrality; rather, it raises questions about the proper handling of values in science and practice.