What is CBT?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, popularly known as CBT, is based on the idea that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors all affect each other. We can’t directly change our emotions. However, we can change our thoughts and our behaviors. By changing how we think about things and how we respond in situations, we can start to feel better.
CBT was one of the first (and definitely the most popular) therapy methodologies to really say that just talking about our problems isn’t enough. In order to truly feel better, we have to commit to taking action and practicing new coping skills. CBT brings with it many tools, techniques, and strategies that therapists can teach to their clients.
CBT teaches you to become your own therapist.
Think of it like piano lessons- if you want to get good at playing piano, you might meet with a teacher each week and have your lesson. But the key to getting good is daily practicing of the scales and sheet music that the teacher gives you. Likewise, the more you practice the new ideas and skills that your therapist teaches you, the better you will get at being the master of your own mind.
In CBT we make sure that we have concrete goals we are working towards, so that we are using our time productively. You will never come into a CBT session and be met with silent staring. There is a structure and a purpose to everything we do, and our aim is to get you to your goals as efficiently as possible. Once you feel that you have gotten what you need from therapy sessions, you can confidently move on knowing that you have learned new skills, insights, and ideas that will last a lifetime.
Does Cognitive Behavior Therapy Work?
One of the benefits of using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in counseling sessions is that it helps with a wide range of mental health issues. There has been a great deal of research on the effectiveness of CBT. Therefore, we know that CBT has proven time and again in studies to be effective for the following issues:
Depression
Drug and alcohol addictions
Eating disorders / Body dysmorphia
OCD
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Sex addiction
Bipolar disorder
Chronic pain
Anger problems
Procrastination / Changing habits and
Insomnia and Sleep Issues
We use CBT because it works
While there are now countless studies to back up the efficacy of Cognitive Behavior Therapy, what is most important to us is that we have seen clients get better time and time again while utilizing CBT in our work together. We have also experienced the benefits personally, so we know first hand the positive effect it can have. By changing your thoughts and behaviors and developing a new relationship to emotions, you can start to feel better.
CBT is an Evidence Based Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is considered among the first evidence based mental health treatments. It comes with a specific set of tools and techniques that we can use as therapists to help you. CBT is the most researched type of counseling available. In fact, CBT is considered the the gold standard for evidence based psychotherapy. We use CBT because we know it works well for people struggling with so many different types of mental health concerns.
It’s important that your counselor offers you more than just a safe space to vent about your week. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy lets us do that. You’ll walk away with specific skills, new ways of thinking about things and a new type of confidence. CBT gives you the tools to face challenges both in the present and future in a healthy way so you can be the best version of yourself.
“CBT is now considered among the most efficacious forms of talk therapy, especially when clients incorporate strategies into their daily life. This effort to gain insight into one’s cognitive and behavioral processes and modify them in a constructive way often involves ongoing practice, but is favored by many clients as it can require fewer therapy sessions than other modalities.”
CBT for Anxiety Disorders
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a frontline treatment for anxiety disorders because it contains a clinically proven theory for how anxiety functions and several tools and methods for how to overcome anxiety. I use these skills on a daily basis to help clients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, OCD, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, and specific phobias. You might have heard about exposure therapy, which has been widely accepted as one of the most effective and efficient ways to overcome fears. Exposure therapy is an important aspect of CBT because it involves letting go of the avoidance behaviors that keep us stuck in anxious cycles. For example, if you have social phobia, you might find yourself saying no to social invitations. When that happens, your anxiety will temporarily decrease because you no longer have to face the thing you fear. However, in the long run your anxiety will get worse because each time you avoid the thing you fear it is further reinforced in your mind. The good news is that we would never ask you to face your biggest fear all at once. The way exposure therapy works is that we slowly work our way through your fears one step at a time. This is only one of the many tools that makes Cognitive Behavior Therapy so amazing for anxiety.
CBT for Substance Abuse Counseling
If you’ve struggled with alcoholism or an addiction of any kind, you know the cycle of destruction that can happen. CBT helps you explore your patterns of behavior related to alcohol and other substances. You work with your therapist to identify thoughts that are keeping you stuck or causing you to begin a downward spiral. Then together, we start to look for ways you can changes these destructive patterns. CBT offers practical, helpful skills and coping strategies. You’ll have a new way to think about stressful situations in your life and new ways to cope with cravings.
You don’t have to live feeling stuck. We offer effective, compassionate addiction treatment that can help you not only maintain your sobriety, but to thrive. Addiction is a powerful disease. But CBT can help give you find your strength so you can start to get your life back.
CBT for Depression
One of the most common reasons people come to counseling is for depression or related issues such as low self esteem, struggling during a difficult life transition or just feeling really down for awhile. The good news is that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is very effective for symptoms of depression .
Many of the symptoms of depression stem from negative self talk, core beliefs that you developed many years ago about yourself or an anxious internal voice. CBT targets the source of these problems. It helps you really examine the relationship between your emotions, thoughts and behaviors. When you come to our office for depression counseling we will do more than just passively listen to your problems. We will seek first to understand, reassure and build a relationship with you. But then we’ll use the concepts of CBT to roll up our sleeves, get down to business and help you make lasting change in your life that you can feel good about.
Our Approach as to CBT Therapy
We use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) because it works. There have been countless research studies showing that these techniques can help with most mental health issues, so we use at least parts of CBT with most of our counseling clients. While we are trained in and use a variety of counseling methods, Strive On Counseling is based on CBT therapist at its heart. We believe that you deserve to get unstuck from the things holding you back in life and to feel better. We also believe that CBT gives you the best possible chance of feeling better quickly. By using CBT in our counseling sessions, we balance working to deeply understand and validate where you are in this moment with helping you make effective changes in your life. You’ll leave our sessions feeling more than understood. You’ll feel hopeful again. Armed with a new way of viewing the world around you and new skills to use, CBT will allow you to make effective change in your life. Furthermore, you’ll have skills you can use long after you stop coming in for regular therapy sessions.
Begin CBT in Asheville, NC
If you are frustrated by the way things have been going and are ready to see lasting change in your life, CBT can help. You don't have to stay stuck or be held back by anxiety, depression and self doubt. Countless research studies, and just as importantly my own past clients have shown that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy works. Your next steps are simple:
Contact Strive On Counseling Today.
Meet with us for your first CBT Counseling session.
Get the support and help you need to feel better.
Other Mental Health Services Available at Strive On Counseling
As Asheville therapists, we understand that every individual has a unique set of mental health needs. Therefore, we offer many services and forms of therapy. More specifically, our services include individual counseling, anxiety treatment, EMDR trauma therapy, therapy for men’s issues, mindfulness, buddhist counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, teletherapy / online therapy. Some other resources we offer include guided meditations, supplements, a list of books and other useful resources, and online courses. If you would like more information about any of these services, please reach out today, and start doing therapy in North Carolina!
