Does cognitive or behavior therapy work for anxiety?

Yes: Cbt works well on average, but perhaps not for absolutely everyone. Other modalities can work too, but they are less structured and thus harder to study. Anxiety and depression are two areas for which there is very clear evidence that therapy works a good deal. Fortunately for talk / behavior therapy, a great many difficulties have at least 'some' anxiety or demoralization / depression component.

YES: In contrast to other forms of psychotherapy, cognitive therapy is usually more focused on the present, more time-limited, and more problem-solving oriented. In addition, patients learn specific skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. These skills involve identifying distorted thinking, modifying beliefs, relating to others in different ways, and changing behaviors.