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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT in Orange County, California
Your thoughts, they become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your character. Your character is your destiny.
CBT and Your Treatment
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a type of talking therapy that can be beneficial for a range of Behavioral Health conditions including anxiety and depression. It uses the cognitive behavioral model and aims to help patients identify and change negative patterns of thinking.
The cognitive behavioral model begins with a situation that, whilst it may be influenced by previous behavior and actions, is external and ultimately outside of the patient’s control. This situation leads to certain thoughts, beliefs, and emotions arising in the patient, which then leads to certain behaviors as they respond to the situation.
CBT: What to Expect
During CBT, the therapist works with the patient to change negative patterns of thinking and behavior. A number of techniques can be used to do this, both while the patient is with the therapist and outside of their sessions. These include thought challenging, exposure therapy, and cognitive journaling. The exact combination of methods that will be most appropriate will vary based on the patient’s individual needs and situation.
For example, exposure therapy involves being exposed to situations or objects which cause anxiety, but managed in such a way as to ensure that the anxiety remains tolerable. This can reduce anxiety levels experienced when these situations are encountered again, making it appropriate when treating phobias or obsessive compulsive disorder.
Thought Patterns
Thought challenging and cognitive journaling work on directly identifying and combating unhealthy thought patterns, and can be used both in the presence of a therapist and whilst the patient is alone between sessions.
Its focus on concrete issues faced by the patient in the present time is one of the primary factors setting CBT apart from other therapeutic methods. Unlike psychoanalytic therapy, it doesn’t look back on the patient’s past experiences to explain their current behavior, and unlike humanistic therapy, it focuses on addressing specific issues in a practical way. CBT may be offered alongside other forms of therapy, and some patients can benefit from medications such as anti-depressants while undergoing treatment.
Benefits of CBT in Orange County
1. Short-term treatment: CBT is typically a short-term treatment, with sessions lasting anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. This makes it an efficient therapy that patients can focus on for a specific timeframe.
2. Evidence-based: CBT is an evidence-based therapy, meaning that it has been extensively studied and has been shown to be effective in treating a range of Behavioral Health conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and many others.
3. Focuses on changing negative thought patterns: CBT is a form of talk therapy that focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors that can contribute to mental health issues. By changing these patterns, individuals can learn to manage their symptoms more effectively.
4. Provides coping strategies: CBT provides individuals with coping strategies that can be used in their everyday lives to manage their symptoms. These coping strategies can include relaxation techniques, mindfulness exercises, and problem-solving skills.
5. Collaborative approach: CBT is a collaborative approach between the therapist and the individual seeking treatment. This means that the therapist and individual work together to set goals, develop treatment plans, and track progress. This collaborative approach helps individuals feel more in control of their treatment and more invested in their own recovery.
CBT Is Effective
CBT is considered an evidence-based treatment due to the large amount of research proving its effectiveness in treating a wide range of issues. In fact, it is the most researched form of psychotherapy, with some experts branding it as the gold standard of psychological treatment.
