Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is a short-term, problem-focused form of behavioral treatment that helps people see the difference between beliefs, thoughts, and feelings, and free them from unhelpful patterns of behavior.
CBT is grounded in the belief that it is a person’s perception of events – rather than the events themselves – that determines how he or she will feel and act in response.
CBT can help with:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Social Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Phobias
- Self-Esteem
- Life Transitions
Most people with clearly defined behavioral and emotional concerns tend to reap the benefits of CBT. If any of the above issues resonate with you, check out cognitive behavioral therapy and see if it's right for you.
With CBT, you’ll be able to adjust the thoughts and beliefs that directly influence your emotions and behavior. This adjustment process is referred to as cognitive reconstructing, which happens through different CBT techniques.
Some CBT techniques are:
Identifying cognitive distortions and/or thinking traps (spotting patterns like all or nothing thinking, catastrophizing i.e "what if's," mind reading, personalizing and fortune telling).
Challenging unhelpful beliefs that may not serve you
Thought records (writing down situations, automatic thoughts, emotions, and creating more helpful and balanced alternatives).
Behavioral experiments (testing out fears or assumptions in real-life situations).
Graded exposure (gradually facing feared situations to reduce avoidance and increasing comfortability ).
Activity scheduling (planning meaningful, enjoyable, or confidence-building activities to boost mood and break avoidance cycles).
Problem-solving training (learning structured ways to handle challenges rather than ruminating and overthinking).
Values clarification (exploring what matters most to you and aligning actions with those values).
Self-compassion exercises (challenging the inner critic with kinder, more supportive and helpful self-talk).
Mindfulness practices (observing thoughts, grounding, present-moment focus)
Relaxation techniques (deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation)
Social, physical, and thinking exercises
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is more than just talking about whatever is on your mind. Each session is structured with care, so you and your therapist stay focused on what matters most to you. Together, you’ll work on specific goals that help you understand your thoughts, practice new tools, and build confidence. This structure helps ensure every session feels productive, meaningful and gives you something practical to take with you—so you can start feeling more calm, capable, and in control of your life.
If you or someone you know would benefit from Cognitive Behavioral therapy, reach out today by using our on-line calendar to schedule your Free 15-minute consultation and/or email me using the contact form. I look forward to connecting with you.