Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a psychosocial intervention approach that focuses on changing and challenging unhelpful thoughts (known as cognitive distortions), as well as changing and unhelpful behaviors, with the intent to improve emotional regulation via coping strategies to solve current problems.
Through CBT, you may be able to become aware of negative thinking patterns that interfere with your emotional experience of people, situations and circumstances. In developing this awareness, you may be better able to better respond to challenging situations in a way that will allow you to make decisions on what to do from a more clear perspective. CBT strategies are known to be helpful in supporting individuals better manage stressful situations in life, at work, and with relationships.
CBT is helpful for…
- identifying ways to manage emotions, thinking patterns and behaviors.
- developing coping capacities
- improving communication skills
- managing stress
- developing self-esteem
- overcoming traumatic experiences
- managing difficult and challenging interpersonal relationships
- learning mindfulness techniques
- learning and developing assertiveness skills
CBT will guide you through a series of steps in your sessions. These steps include, and often start with…
- defining the problem, situation, person or condition that you are looking to resolve
- increasing awareness of your thinking process, emotional experience and the beliefs and narratives you have about the presenting problem or worry
- identify negative and inaccurate thinking patterns, the emotional response and the behavioral response that occurs
- Restructure and reshape the negative thinking; seek and practice alternative emotional responses by building coping skills and developing a response system; and seeking alternative behavioral options may help toward your goal.