Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
(CBT) is a theoretical orientation used for
both individual and group therapy that focuses on the
link between thoughts ("cognitions"), behavior, and
emotions. Research has demonstrated that CBT is the most
efficacious form of treatment for several psychological
problems, including depression and many forms of anxiety
including panic disorder, phobias, generalized anxiety
disorder, and obsessions compulsions. Whereas
traditional insight-oriented treatment works to help you
understand the impact of your childhood experience on
your current functioning, CBT is a present-focused
approach to therapy and the emphasis is on understanding
the thoughts and behaviors that maintain symptoms,
testing out new behaviors, and changing your approach to
your thoughts, either by challenging maladaptive
thinking or learning to accept internal experience in a
non-judgmental fashion.
CBT is a collaborative, goal-oriented treatment, and you
will work with your therapist to develop interventions
that are best suited to your particular needs. Treatment
is relatively short-term, although treatment duration is
dependent on many factors including severity of symptoms
and functioning, and commitment to practice between
sessions. To that end, a targeted list of problems is
often identified at the beginning of treatment, and you
will work with your therapist to develop realistic and
helpful interventions for symptoms relief. The idea is
to provide you with a set of skills and tools that will
help you reduce symptoms, prevent relapse, and improve
overall well-being. Wellsprings therapists who practice
CBT are skilled at integrating the many different
techniques that fall under the "umbrella" of CBT,
including
Cognitive Therapy (CT)
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Behavioral Activation (BA)
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)
Mindfulness Skills
Although each of these interventions has its own unique
set of strategies, common to all of them is the idea
that practicing (and doing homework) between sessions
helps to enhance the therapeutic process and facilitates
faster and more significant healing. Between session
work may including such things as tracking your
thoughts, moods, and behaviors, scheduling and
completing activities, challenging negative thoughts,
practicing diaphragmatic breathing and other relaxation
strategies, and changing responses to others.
Wellsprings' mission is to provide the highest level of clinical care,
consultative and ongoing.
Our professional staff represents experienced, licensed social workers,
psychologists and psychiatrists,
collaborating to create a uniquely comprehensive and responsive treatment
team.