Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

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What is cognitive-behavioral therapy?

As an evidence-based form of psychotherapy, CBT is backed by more than 1,000 research studies showing that it leads to positive change and serves as an effective treatment for many mental health disorders.

CBT is grounded in the belief that the way you perceive a situation influences how you feel and respond. Many patients have distorted thoughts that aren’t based on the reality of the circumstance. For example, they may believe that they’re personally responsible for everything, including events they can’t possibly control.

During CBT, you explore your thought patterns, identify the negative thoughts, and learn to challenge and then restructure them. Once you change the dysfunctional thoughts, your beliefs change, and you eliminate problematic behaviors.

When might I need cognitive-behavioral therapy?

The team at Nugent Family Counseling Center use CBT to treat a wide variety of mental illnesses, including:

• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• ADHD
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Anger management issues
• Phobias
• Panic disorder
• Addictions
• Health anxiety
• Sexual dysfunction
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder

CBT also works well for patients with physical problems such as insomnia, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines, and chronic pain.

What should I expect during cognitive behavioral therapy?

Therapists take several approaches to CBT, such as cognitive therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and rational emotive behavior therapy. Though each method has a slightly different emphasis, they all share common features.

All types of CBT concentrate on the present to solve your current problems and facilitate behavioral changes. CBT also differs from many types of psychotherapy because it’s time-limited and structured.

You’ll typically have homework to do between sessions that may include practical exercises or reading assignments. This structure keeps you focused on your specific problem areas and ensures you make progress toward your goals.

Your assignments help you identify thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in real-time as you go throughout your daily life. As you review these events with your therapist, you’ll learn new skills to change your thinking and develop more positive behaviors.

If you have questions about cognitive behavioral therapy or you’d like to schedule an appointment, call Nugent Family Counseling Center or book online today.