My Services

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapeutic treatment that helps clients understand the thoughts and feelings that influence behaviors. CBT is commonly used to treat a wide range of disorders, including depression, anxiety, and phobias. It is generally short-term and focuses on helping clients deal with a very specific problem. During the course of treatment, people learn how to identify and change destructive or disturbing thought patterns that have a negative influence on behavior and emotions.

Icon of two open lotus flowers, a symbol for cognitive behavior therapy at Middle Path DBT & Mindfulness Center in California & North Carolina

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My Approach to CBT

I work collaboratively to help clients identify and change faulty beliefs (cognitions) and behaviors that may contribute to emotional distress. Weekly homework practice allows clients to increase awareness of and practice changing their relationship with their thoughts and distorted beliefs. The process involves developing a clear conceptualization framework of the problems that contribute to distressing emotions like anxiety and depression.

Key elements of CBT include:

1

Cognitive Restructuring or Reframing:
Identifying and challenging negative thoughts and replacing them with more realistic and positive ones.
2

Behavioral Activation:
Encouraging engagement in activities that are likely to bring pleasure and a sense of accomplishment.
3

Skills Training:
Teaching specific skills to cope with stressful situations.
4

Exposure Therapy:
Gradual exposure to feared situations or objects to diminish anxiety over time.
5

Problem-Solving:
Developing practical ways to deal with specific problems.
6

Mindfulness:
Promoting awareness and acceptance of thoughts and feelings without judgment.