Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people to not only identify what has to change in order for their lives to become more satisfying, but also learn how to make that change happen. Although I am not disinterested in a person’s past, our focus is typically on the present with the goal of improving future well-being.
We know that thoughts, feelings and actions influence each other. People can experience psychological distress if any of these areas is out of balance. CBT can be very helpful for adolescents and adults who experience dilemmas such as depression, social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and insomnia. Of course, people having trouble getting a good night’s rest will need different strategies than those who fear standing in front of the classroom to present a school project. Many variations of CBT have been developed over the years, allowing treatment to be flexible enough to address a range of painful situations while remaining effective.
Collaborative treatment typically begins with a careful assessment of a person’s needs to identify the overall goals for the work. Once we have a sense of direction, clients strengthen existing coping strategies, learn new skills and put all that knowledge into action so that satisfying change becomes a reality. Naturally, a good deal of treatment occurs during each therapy session. In addition, carefully crafted, weekly assignments help clients practice more skillful behavior in everyday situations.
Relying on solid data derived from evidence-based research, I am confident that the CBT strategies I utilize help people improve their quality of life. Please contact me if you want to learn more about this effective treatment!