Cognitive Behavior Therapy

in Fort Lauderdale, FL

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, known as CBT, is a type of psychotherapy based on the idea that your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are interconnected. CBT was originally developed in the 1960’s by Aaron T. Beck and is considered one of the most widely used and effective forms of therapy today.

There has been extensive research on CBT, specifically to treat anxiety-related disorders, and is now considered the gold standard of therapy for many mental health conditions {1}. CBT may also be beneficial when integrated with other approaches, such as mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies, depending on individual needs. Additionally, CBT is a popular type of therapy because of its short-term nature, goal-oriented focus, real life applicability, and collaborative approach.

CBT teaches you how to recognize your thought patterns that fuel anxiety, question the accuracy of such thoughts, and respond to them in healthier ways. For instance, anxiety often shows up as a question like, “What if…?” in a fearful and uncomfortable way.

This creates an unhealthy cycle that makes anxiety worse by overestimating risk and avoiding situations that trigger anxiety. However, by increasing your awareness, you can challenge and replace distorted thoughts with more realistic ones.

Since anxious thoughts tend to be automatic and out of proportion, it can also lead to unwanted behaviors such as avoidance, safety behaviors, or reassurance-seeking. CBT helps you learn a variety of practical strategies, like developing a personalized therapeutic toolbox of techniques, to practice outside of sessions. This can increase your confidence to face your fears and assess risk more rationally.

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How Does CBT Work?

CBT typically includes components such as:

Psychoeducation about CBT and how anxiety operates in both your body and mind
Cognitive restructuring involves identifying unhelpful thought patterns, such as negative core beliefs, and learning how you can relate to those patterns differently
Behavioral strategies to reduce your avoidance and safety behaviors
Exposure-based exercises to gradually face your feared situations, sensations, or thoughts
Between-session practice of skills that generalize to your everyday life

Rather than eliminating anxiety completely, CBT teaches you how to change the relationship with your anxious thoughts and make everyday situations more manageable.

How Do You Know If Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Can Help You?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is considered a top line of treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, specific phobias, and health anxiety, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It differs from other types of therapy because it is active, focuses on the here and now, and provides practical tools you can use right away in real life situations.

Anxiety-related disorders can be complex, persistent, and even misunderstood by mental health and medical professionals. You may feel discouraged, having worked with other therapists in the past, with little to no progress in treatment.

This treatment is also advantageous if you are someone looking for a short-term and collaborative approach to therapy that offers real solutions to heal, grow, and move forward.

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My Background As A CBT Therapist:

Working with a specialist in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is essential to ensure treatment is grounded in research and tailored specifically to your symptoms. As a CBT therapist for over 25 years, I understand the nature of anxiety, provide goal-oriented treatment strategies, and guide you through learning tools and techniques to use independently of therapy.

In addition to my CBT training, during my doctoral and internship years, I received certification through the BTTI (Behavioral Training Therapy Institute) sponsored by the International OCD Foundation. I also taught and supervised hundreds of doctoral students in these methods while continuing to treat my own clients, using CBT, at the OCD Resource Center.

Find Out If Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Can Help You…

If you are struggling and are ready to reclaim your life, CBT can be an effective path forward. For more information on how to get started, contact me by email, call (954) 233-0379, or visit the contact page, for a free 15-minute consultation to learn more.

[1] Hoffman, S.G., Wu, J.Q., Boettcher, H. (2014). Effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders on quality of life: A meta-analysis.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 82 (3) 375-391.

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