Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
in Houston, TX and Online
Feeling anxious or depressed?
Tired of feeling stuck? It’s normal to feel sad, frustrated or overwhelmed when you are stuck in patterns that aren’t working for you. Sometimes, the most effective approach is an outside perspective to help you learn new strategies. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can offer new strategies for thinking and feeling. CBT can reduce depression and anxiety and improve your overall mental health.
What Does CBT Treat?
If you want to change patterns of behaviors, feelings or thoughts, or generally start feeling better, a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist can help. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be a highly effective form of therapy for:
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Anxiety such as Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder
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Depression such as Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder
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Procrastination, Perfectionism
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Low Self-Esteem
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Relationship Problems
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Insomnia, ADHD and Disordered Eating
Learn new strategies to feel better with CBT
When Should I Choose Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
CBT Treatment is appropriate when you have a specific behavioral pattern you’d like to change or goal you’d like to achieve.
Changes or goals might involve:
- A way of acting: like smoking less or being more outgoing;
- A way of feeling: like helping a person to be less scared, less depressed, or less anxious;
- A way of thinking: like learning to problem-solve or get rid of self-defeating thoughts;
- A way of dealing with physical or medical problems: like lessening back pain or helping a person stick to a doctor’s suggestions.
Whether you are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, both, or other challenges, cognitive behavioral therapy can help you learn to manage the challenges effectively, decrease your distress about what are you struggling with, and move towards your goals with the help of a supportive therapist.
CBT is Different
Like many others who have already benefited from CBT therapy, you too can increase your sense of well-being and get back on track. CBT is different from many other therapy approaches, in that we focus more on the present moment and on the ways that your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected and affect one another.
What are CBT Sessions Like?
In CBT therapy, you will identify specific goals at the beginning of therapy and you can modify those goals as you continue. You and your therapist will set an agenda for each meeting.
You might discuss one or two current problems, what you’ve accomplished in the session and at home, and goals for the next week. The goal of CBT is to solve problems. What you learn in therapy is what you practice outside of therapy of your own.
Research shows that working on skills outside of therapy sessions helps you get better faster and stay better longer.
Behavior Therapists and Cognitive Behavior Therapists usually focus more on the current situation and its solution, rather than on the past. They concentrate on a person’s views and beliefs about their life, not on personality traits.
How Long is CBT?
Because it can be effective in a relatively short period of time, CBT is popular with clients, practitioners, and even insurance companies. There may be no set time frame but most typically, CBT runs at least 5 sessions and up to 20. Whether your therapy sessions are in-person or online, CBT has proven to be equally effective.
How is a CBT Therapist Important?
During cognitive behavioral therapy treatment, your therapist is not an all-knowing oracle. Rather, you form a connection together for the sake of problem-solving. It’s collaborative and feels like teamwork. Moreover, this type of relationship is conducive to you finishing the treatment with the skills you need.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) FAQ's
The following types of negative thinking patterns are a target of CBT therapy.
These are each an example of cognitive distortion:
- Automatic: they just pop into your head without any effort on your part.
- Distorted: they do not fit all the facts.
- Unhelpful: they keep you depressed, make it difficult to change, and stop you from getting what you want out of life.
- Plausible: you. accept them as facts, and it does not occur to you to question them.
- Involuntary: you do not choose to have them, and they can be very difficult to switch off.
In CBT therapy, your thoughts contribute your mood and behaviors. Here’s an example of how the cycle works with depression. When you are depressed, your thoughts tend to be more negative.
Negative thoughts usually are “distorted” or not factual, which contributes to negative feelings and unhelpful behaviors.
- You have self-defeating thoughts: “Things are too difficult. There’s no point in doing anything.”
- Negative thinking lead to self-defeating emotions: You feel tired, bored, discouraged, guilty, helpless and overwhelmed.
- Difficult emotions lead to self-defeating actions: You stick to bed or avoid people, work or enjoyable activities.
- You experience consequences of your behavior: You feel isolated from friends; feel inadequate; decrease productivity and sink deeper into an unmotivated state.
Changing this negative thought cycle can help you treat depression.
Here is an example of how self-critical thoughts lead to feelings of guilt and procrastination:
- Thoughts: “I shouldn’t be watching TV. I’m lazy and no good.”
- Emotions: guilt, anxiety, self-loathing.
- Behaviors: procrastination, binge eating.
As you can see, thoughts and behaviors are connected.
CBT Therapists treat individuals, parents, children and adolescents, couples, and families.
Replacing ways of living that do not work well with ways of living that work, and giving people more control over their lives, are common goals of behavior and cognitive behaviour therapy.
Mental health professionals providing CBT talk therapy may combine it with other therapies if appropriate.
Cognitive behaviour therapy offers many benefits regardless of your presenting concern.
- CBT skills can positively impact a wide range of common mental health conditions.
Becoming more aware of how we talk to and relate with ourselves increases self-esteem, self-compassion, confidence, and overall outlook on life.
Learning the connection between thoughts and feelings can help you shift your mood.
- CBT skills can improve interpersonal relationships.
When you recognize that some of what is happening in your relationship is due to your own thoughts, cognitive distortions, core beliefs, or interpretations, you have control.
You can shift your perceptions, open up and be more present in your relationships.
- CBT techniques can help you relax.
Cognitive behavior treatment includes strategies to help you relax.
For example, when overcoming or coping with a condition such as chronic pain or substance use, learning different ways of responding to triggers is essential.
In CBT, you develop skills, such as progressive muscle relaxation, to relax your body and respond differently to triggers.
Get Started Now!
Finally, consider the possibilities of CBT. Free your mind one thought at a time. Enjoy fully whatever comes next.
Ready To Begin CBT Therapy?
Learn more about our CBT therapy services and how we can help. Schedule a free consultation to find out how a CBT therapist can help you. Call us in Houston today at 832-559-2622 or request an appointment below.
Get Help From a Specialist in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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