Therapy (CBT)
Here at The Mind Institute Psychotherapy, our goal is to empower you to heal and live your best life. We offer CBT, among other therapy methods, to adults across California through teletherapy. Having the convenience to connect from anywhere can make the process easier.
The way we think, feel, and act impacts who we are—for better or worse. Much like interconnected gears, our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors work together, always linked to one another.
For example, if you think of your favorite restaurant, you will feel good each time you visit it. Your positive memories (thoughts) will spark positive emotions (happy emotions), which will motivate you to go back again and again (behavior). The same is true for events or places you recall to be unpleasant or unhappy. You might avoid these locations or situations in the future because they bring up uncomfortable memories and emotions.
Over time, the link between your thoughts, feelings, and actions creates a recurring pattern. We develop habits, belief systems, and emotional defaults. And while some of these patterns might be helpful, others can grow ineffective and damage your quality of life.
This may prompt you to feel like you are “stuck in your ways” and cause you to make the same mistake over and over. You might experience self-critical thoughts, self-limiting beliefs, or mood swings, filling you with frustration or worry no matter how much you try to ease yourself. You might even find yourself feeling down, confused, or disconnected, restricted by irrational ideas and upsetting emotions.
When stress, anxiety, and other challenges become the norm, stepping outside of those destructive cycles can be extremely difficult. Yet, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers the possibility of transformation through practical strategies.
Change is possible
If you feel overwhelmed or stuck in a cycle of unhelpful thoughts, emotions, and actions, we are here to help you. To get started, book an appointment with a CBT therapist. To learn more about how CBT can help you, keep reading or contact us if you have any questions!
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (also known as CBT) is an evidence-based psychotherapy method that helps you develop effective skills to address life challenges.
CBT is a goal-oriented approach based on the collaborative relationship between a licensed therapist and a client. It helps you understand how and why you think and perceive the world as you do, by looking at the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This awareness builds a solid foundation to adopt coping mechanisms that can improve how you think, perceive, and act, and sustain your wellness.
CBT can help you make actual progress by empowering you to change your unhelpful thoughts, feelings, and actions in order to form new healthier, more productive ways of thinking, being, and operating in the world.
how we think and feel
how we act and think
how we act and feel
3 Types of Cognitions
When a CBT therapist works on your thoughts, there are three types of cognitions that come into play:
- Conscious thoughts: Rational and logical thoughts that you have with full consciousness.
- Automatic thoughts: Thoughts that happen quickly, almost in auto-pilot, without conscious effort or the ability to check them for accuracy.
- Schemas: Belief systems and structures used to process information, passed down from prior generations and through life experiences.
These cognitions all interact with one another, influencing your emotional and behavioral reactions. Over time, you might develop unhelpful thoughts and schemas that relate to unhelpful feelings and actions.
Some of the common benefits of CBT include:
- Building awareness
- Identifying self-critical, inaccurate, and limiting thoughts
- Challenging irrational schemas and fears
- Seeing situations from a different perspective
- Reframing problematic cognitions and behaviors
- Gaining self-compassion and acceptance
- Establishing clear and achievable goals
- Learning coping skills and steps to spark positive change
Do I Need CBT?
CBT can help address various challenges, including, but not limited to the following:
- Anxiety
- Anger problems
- Chronic pain
- Depression
- Grief and loss
- Insomnia
- Low self-esteem
- Phobias
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Relationship conflicts
- Trauma
Yet, you don’t need to struggle with a mental illness or severe difficulty to access the benefits of this therapy approach. CBT can also support you if you want to learn about your thought process and find ways to manage your emotions and everyday stressors.
How Can CBT Help Me?
CBT can help you in four fundamental ways:
Gain Self-Awareness
Your CBT therapist will provide a safe and comfortable space to open up about what is troubling you and what goals you want to achieve. Together, you will pinpoint the specific problem areas associated with what you are looking to improve.
As therapy evolves, you will become aware of the belief systems and habits you have embraced throughout the years, how you talk to yourself, how you interpret others and your surroundings.
Adjust and Reframe
This self-discovery effort will help you recognize negative and distorted thinking patterns that directly impact your behaviors. Your therapist will encourage you to take a step back and look at certain situations from different points of view. You will begin to ask yourself whether they are related to facts or irrational perceptions.
With time and your therapist’s guidance, you will be able to reprogram unhelpful thoughts, emotions, or behaviors to support your well-being.
Unlearn Unwanted Behaviors
The assumption underlying CBT is that behaviors are learned reactions and can, therefore, be unlearned. Your therapist will teach you the tools you need to acquire new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving to replace old patterns. Research has found CBT to provide long-term results.
Create Lasting Changes
CBT offers valuable insight to apply outside of the therapy room. You may have some homework activities and exercises to build upon your learning and adopt practical and effective coping skills. These include strategies like relaxation techniques, stress management, self-talk, resilience, and many others.
CBT at The Mind Institute Psychotherapy
At The Mind Institute Psychotherapy, we are passionate about supporting individuals to heal, transform, and thrive in their lives. We offer Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and other therapy methods to adults in California by connecting online from the convenience of their homes.
We will meet you where you are, listen to your story with compassion, and provide a tailored approach personalized to your needs and concerns.
You are not alone in this. Let’s work together to help you improve your life.
Let’s Connect!
Do you have questions? Reach out to us for more information about our therapy services and how we can support your journey.
Ready to get started? Book an appointment with us. We look forward to hearing from you today!