CBT - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychological treatment that can help you identify negative patterns of thinking and behavior. By reshaping these patterns, you can begin to address mental health disorders such as anxiety, PTSD, and others. CBT is offered at Elevated Healing Treatment Centers in Woodland Hills as one of many tools to help you get on the path to recovery.
How CBT Works
We all have learned patterns of behavior and thought that help us cope with difficult situations. However, especially if you’ve experienced trauma, a difficult childhood, or a lack of support from loved ones, you may have learned unhealthy ways of coping that are causing or exacerbating a mental health condition. The first step is recognizing that this isn’t your fault, and these patterns can be changed.
​In a CBT session, your therapist will ask you to walk through your thoughts and behaviors so that together, you can identify unhealthy patterns and start to correct them. For example, if a friend cancels plans with you last-minute, you may automatically think, “They must hate me. They don’t want to see me ever again.” CBT would involve reassessing that knee-jerk negative reaction and shifting it to a different thought that doesn’t cause you grief or stress, such as, “Maybe they’re just busy. Let’s wait and see.”
What CBT Can Treat
CBT can be helpful in addressing many mental health disorders, including:
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Phobias
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Sleep disorders
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Substance use disorders
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Sexual disorders
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Bipolar disorders
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Schizophrenia
The process involves regular sessions with a therapist, as well as occasional “homework” assignments such as keeping a journal or healthy activities. Essentially, CBT teaches you to be your own therapist, catching and correcting unhealthy patterns until healthy patterns become second-nature.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you or a loved one is suffering from mental illness. CBT can be a very helpful tool to break negative cycles and start to build a healthier life.
Contact
Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.