What is CBT? It’s a theoretical approach where a therapist will work with you to examine Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors and see how they intersect.
Why work with a CBT therapist? It’s an effective and evidenced-based way to work through a variety of issues – it is a team approach to examining issues you struggle with.
CBT is typically a more structured approach versus other therapies – it includes identifying goals you and the counselor agree to work on together.
A common misconception of CBT is that CBT therapists will not look at your past — it is true the CBT therapist will focus more on the present, but a CBT therapist should also spend time seeing and understanding how your past affects you today.
CBT combines cognitive therapy (examining the things you think) and behavioral therapy (examining the things you do)
CBT is a practical type of talking therapy – which focuses on goals and mostly on the present day and things that are affecting you in your life right now.
The theory behind CBT is that the way we Think about situations affects the way we Feel and Behave → it teaches you coping tools to deal with different problems
Cycle of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can happen so many times they become habit — a CBT therapist can help you break this cycle and help you deal with negative thinking.
CBT can be delivered in a variety of formats and in groups — but it doesn’t work for everyone; also you will receive CBT-based homework
CBT challenges negative thoughts and restates them in positive terms
CBT can show you negative and irrational thoughts that don’t match up to facts
CBT can help you rethink and reevaluate how you see the world — CBT can teach you how negative thoughts can team up with strong emotions to depress you
By learning to recognize extreme negative thoughts, I could turn them into positive statements; CBT can help you identify unproductive thoughts and behaviors
CBT can teach you how to stop attacking yourself and think more productively — can view things as individual parts that you can attack one at a time.