Cognitive behavioral therapy, commonly referred to as CBT, is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on examining the patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to problems in a person’s life. CBT aims to help individuals identify and change these patterns in order to achieve better mental health. As such, CBT focuses on the present moment in an individual’s life and moving forward rather than past events. It can be provided during individual or group therapy. There are many benefits associated with CBT, including:
- Effective for a variety of concerns like depression and anxiety
- Helps you to consistently engage in healthier thinking patterns
- Teaches you how to manage your feelings
- Effective in person or via telehealth
- Teaches you healthy coping skills
- Changes distortions in your thinking such as a negative mindset or catastrophic thinking
Did You Know?
Cognitive behavioral therapy has been developed using both research and clinical practice, which sets it apart from many other forms of psychological treatment.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy FAQs
CBT is effective for treating many mental health issues such as depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and eating disorders to name a few. To learn more about how CBT can help you, schedule a consultation with our team at Transitions Counseling in Glendale, Chandler, North Phoenix, or South Mountain. Our team is also available for telehealth appointments.
When receiving CBT at Transitions Counseling, you will typically have a number of individual sessions over several weeks or months working with a therapist to identify individual patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to problems in your life. Your therapist will also work with you to address these problematic patterns or behaviors using different techniques or strategies. Your counselor will provide you with options for practicing skills between sessions. The specific skills will reflect your individual treatment plan and will vary depending on your needs.
Typically, CBT takes a few weeks to a few months depending on issues you are addressing and individual factors. You may have CBT sessions with your therapist once or many times a week, depending on your unique situation. In most cases, each CBT session lasts about 45-60 minutes.
