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You have so many responsibilities and stressors to balance every day — work, family, friends, bills and everything happening in the world. Dealing with mental or emotional challenges on top of that can be overwhelming. There are many approaches to help manage all of this, and our practice can help you figure out what might work best for you based on your preferences, your challenges and your goals. If you tend to focus on problem solving, working toward goals and actively participate in therapy, you may find cognitive behavioral therapy a good fit.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on thoughts, feelings and behaviors. It helps people identify and challenge negative thought patterns and address any underlying issues contributing to the problem. Therapists use CBT therapy to treat various mental health issues, including anxiety, depression and PTSD.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, CBT includes activities and homework that you do outside therapy sessions. Research has shown that this approach can effectively treat a wide range of mental health conditions. Many therapists use CBT in combination with other therapies, especially mindfulness-based therapies, DBT and family therapy.
CBT tends to be used to help clients with a specific goal and is more short-term in nature. The skills you learn with this therapy can help you become more of your own therapist over time, helping you break free from negative thoughts and live in the present reality.
At Best Therapies, our team includes expert CBT practitioners who can design a treatment plan that’s right for your needs.
While therapists developed CBT to treat depression, experts now use the method to treat many other mental health conditions, including:
The basic premise of CBT is that people develop unhealthy patterns of thinking based on past experiences. For example, someone diagnosed with a mental illness such as depression may believe they have little control over their lives or must always be unhappy. These negative thoughts can spiral into feelings of hopelessness and despair and make it more difficult for them to cope with their symptoms.
CBT therapy can help you examine your thoughts and identify and correct any irrational beliefs that may be causing you distress. By challenging these beliefs and learning to replace negative thoughts with more positive ones, you can improve your mood and be better able to cope with your condition.
In some cases, the therapist may recommend working with a specialist to help treat co-occurring disorders such as ADHD or an eating disorder. They can then integrate your treatment goals with your overall physical and mental well-being, helping you take care of your whole person.
The first step is to schedule an appointment with one of our counselors to discuss your goals and determine if CBT is a fit for you. After we’ve had a chance to understand you and your unique situation better, we’ll develop a personalized treatment plan at our Chicago cognitive behavioral treatment center that addresses your specific needs and challenges.
Sometimes folks can benefit from both individual and group therapy sessions. Either way, your therapist will work closely with you at every step to support you and help you reach your goals.
Reach out to our team at Best Therapies at (773) 377-5261 if you have any questions about CBT or would like to set up a consultation to learn more about how our programs can help you live your best life.
CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, is a form of therapy. You’ll meet with a therapist who will listen and discuss your issues. There’s a great emphasis on learning skills to help you with particular problems. You will practice skills outside the individual session, like people who see a physical trainer for an hour a week and exercise during the week. You might be given worksheets or behavioral activities we want you to try. We can help you build up insight and educate you about your issues. And how to live more effectively! CBT aims to help a person build practical social skills for their life and strengthen their relationships.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a well-researched and evidence-based therapy. Studies have shown it is effective in treating many mental health problems. CBT is considered one of the primary treatments for disorders like anxiety, for example. Exposure response prevention, a form of anxiety treatment based on CBT principles, is the most effective treatment for anyone with frequent panic attacks.
The time depends upon the individual and the issues they want to tackle in therapy. People can do brief therapy with CBT if they’re going to work on a very particular problem for a relatively brief period. Many people do longer-term open-ended therapy with a CBT therapist, where they might work on several issues throughout treatment. The goal is often to help a person build a better, more balanced life.
CBT is covered by all the insurance companies we’re in-network for: Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and Aetna PPO/POS/Choice plans. In fact, for many insurance providers, CBT is the preferred treatment for many disorders, sometimes coupled with medication management.
If you’re seeking solution-focused therapy, which focuses on providing practical strategies to improve your mental health, it’s important to be proactive in seeking treatment. Discussing treatment options with your healthcare professional can be a valuable step towards finding the right approach. CBT is suitable for most people if a provider is using it judiciously. It will help improve most people’s quality of life. A wide range of mental health issues can be treated with CBT. Many of our clinicians are eclectic and will use CBT with other appropriate therapies for your situation.
Our therapists provide telehealth, and your therapy could be 100% remote. Choosing a qualified and experienced licensed therapist to provide telehealth services in your state is important.
To prepare for a CBT session, start with thinking about the issues you’re dealing with and taking notes over the week for things that are bothering you and things you want to discuss. Keep track of any homework assignments or something you have done that previous week.
CBT works on teaching you new skills that can influence permanent chemical changes in the brain. So, if you learn a new way of looking at the world or handling a problem, this growth can last the rest of your life.