Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for a wide range of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, substance use, self-esteem issues, and eating disorders. Clients who participate in CBT will build skill in identifying and challenging unhelpful thoughts that bring up unpleasant emotions. Clients will also build momentum in their recovery by making a plan to engage in behaviors/activities that they find to be enjoyable and personally meaningful.

I have extensive work in treating irrational thinking patterns and disrupting these cycles.

I have received training and utilized aspects of CBT in my practice for over 5 years. I believe it is helpful for everyone to recognize the relationship and interaction between their thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

One of the most rewarding parts of what I do is helping people connect their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Often in doing this, we are able to really identify the negative patterns that are keeping you from thriving. I'm able to be a supportive presence as we work to change your negative and catastrophic patterns to help you become more positive and compassionate to yourself in your thoughts and actions.

My Masters Degree is in the CBT track. CBT is a type of psychotherapeutic treatment that helps clients understand that their thoughts influence their feelings and that influences their behaviors. This treatment helps clients become aware of negative thoughts, which reinforce negative behaviors. They learn to develop alternative ways of thinking and behaving.

I utilize CBT for those who are dealing with a variety of mental health issues, particularly anxiety. Mindfulness interventions are highly effective with reducing anxiety symptoms; some of which are different breathing exercises, progressive-muscle relaxation, grounding technique, and so on. I also like to decipher with each client if they benefit from more hands-on materials that they can get for themself like stress-balls, adult coloring books for calming the mind, and writing or journaling.

I often work with women who are struggling with self esteem issues, with individuals with anxiety and still others with trauma. I utilize CBT to help clients find out where their negative thinking originated, help them to change those thinking patterns and invite them to explore alternative thoughts to create more positive feelings and actions in their lives. I work with them to help heal the "not good enough syndrome" so many women experience.

This method is one that has been around for a long time and is the cornerstone of many other modalities (DBT, ACT, REBT, etc.). This modality helps client to understand their own distorted thinking patterns, create more effective behavioral patterns, and create a more positive perception of themselves, others, and the world.

As the most widely studied and empirically-validated therapy modality, CBT is the gold-standard of treatment for a wide variety of mental health concerns. Using CBT tools, we work together to identify and change thinking and behavior patterns that are harmful or ineffective, and then we replace those patterns with more accurate, adaptive, and functional thoughts and behaviors. I am most heavily trained in CBT and use it as my front-line method because I've seen its efficacy in improving lives.

Cognitive behavioral therapy examines thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and the relationship between them. Using CBT, we will work to examine how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors impact your life and we will work to change the dynamics to promote a healthier, more fulfilling way of being.

The change principles of CBT exist throughout all approaches to counseling. The key is knowing when and how to focus on our beliefs, behaviors, and the way we treat our own feelings. Sometimes it’s most helpful to pay close attention to the bricks and mortar of our minds – through mindfulness, problem-solving, journaling, and other activities – to begin to change embedded patterns.

As a board-certified clinical psychologist, I'm not just committed to my clients; I'm dedicated to creating a warm and welcoming space where they can feel heard and understood. Each person I've met has a unique story and unique needs, and that's what makes my work so fulfilling. I specialize in customizing CBT techniques to fit each individual's journey, whether we're addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, or relationship matters.

Sometimes the roots run deeper than simple, practical coaching skills. CBT allows us to dive deeper as we discuss core fears, trauma and beliefs that hold you back. We may look at your earliest memories and beliefs as we work on reframing them to be beliefs that are in line with who you are becoming. Once we've addressed the "cognition" (thoughts and beliefs), then we can move to action steps that will help you to move forward in your life.

CBT is the baseline approach to psychotherapy from which I work.

Beliefs are often unconscious and go unquestioned. Paradigms of thinking can severely limit our potential for growth. My counseling philosophy is founded on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which challenges people to examine automatic thoughts that may be causing them undue distress. Once brought to light, limiting beliefs can be replaced with empowering ones. Then, more fulfilling habits naturally follow, and sustained positive change can happen.