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Offered in-person & online

Our therapists offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in Alexandria, VA

Get in-person or online care, and cover the majority of the costs with your insurance.

Connect with a therapist, psychiatrist or counselor near you
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9,318 people sought cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) help in Virginia in the last year

Discover how starting therapy with a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Meet with a provider as soon as this week

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Aetna, CareFirst Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia | BCBS HMO, CareFirst Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia | BCBS PPO, +20 more
LGBTQIA+, Anger, Behavioral Issues, Coping Skills, Self Esteem, +13 more

I am curious to listen to assess factors that contribute to the diagnosis, to establish priorities, discuss treatments, and provide education and opti... I am curious to listen to assess factors that contribute to the diagnosis, to establish priorities, discuss treatments, and provide education and options in a holistic manner. Read more

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Aetna, CareFirst Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia | BCBS HMO, CareFirst Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia | BCBS PPO, +20 more
Anger, Behavioral Issues, Stress, ADHD, OCD / Obsessive-Compulsive, +5 more

As a woman of color who is part of the LBGTQIA+ community, I am no stranger to complications and emotional trauma.

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Aetna, CareFirst Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia | BCBS HMO, CareFirst Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia | BCBS PPO, +21 more
LGBTQIA+, Anger, Behavioral Issues, Coping Skills, Self Esteem, +10 more

As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, my priority is to help break down the stigma around mental health and create a comfortable-safe env... As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, my priority is to help break down the stigma around mental health and create a comfortable-safe environment for you to share. Read more

George Wanke

Hear from George Wanke, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

View George Wanke's profile

What is your go-to approach for cognitive behavioral therapy?

Identifying areas of strength and weakness is a good starting point. Then I discuss how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact and impact each other. I enjoy assisting others in gaining clarity about interactions and developing the small steps they can take to address what they'd like to change.

What tools do you teach in cognitive behavioral therapy?

I teach acceptance of being both highly emotional at times and very focused and problem-solving at other times. I encourage knowing about different parts of yourself.

How do you know when a client is making meaningful progress in cognitive behavioral therapy?

I develop EBP TP goals, so progress toward goals is positive treatment movement. Examples of behavioral improvement might include better self-esteem, greater focus on tasks, improved relations with others, and cessation of addictive behavior.

What can clients do in their personal time to supplement cognitive behavioral therapy?

Clients can dedicate some time to noticing the connections between current behavior and things that happened to them or bothered them in the past.

What should someone do to prepare for starting cognitive behavioral therapy?

Noticing family patterns of physical and mental health is a useful place to start preparing.

Starting Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Need more help deciding?

Feeling overwhelmed by a particular life challenge is a normal, human experience. Have you ever faced a situation and thought, “This is impossible. I have no options.” Most likely you have. At some point, we all tell ourselves things that are negative and not true. These are called cognitive distortions, and they make difficult situations worse. In some cases, cognitive distortions can create problems for people that did not previously exist. While people cannot always control others or the circumstances in their lives, they can change their perspective. Identifying and confronting these negative thinking patterns can bring people significant relief with a wide variety of problems they may face. Many people are working with a counselor to do just that. They are pursuing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

“Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.” —Carol Burnett

CBT is a model for therapy that can help people who are ready to make a change in their lives but may not know how. It has helped a wide range of people facing a wide range of problems. In clinical trials, patients who participated in cognitive behavioral therapy experienced substantial and long-term change. When people struggled with anxiety and depression, CBT was shown to bring as much relief as medication. Because CBT focuses on empowering and strengthening an individual’s emotional skills, the benefits of CBT can continue long after therapy ends.

Thriveworks Alexandria, VA (Franconia) offers cognitive behavioral therapy, and our therapists, psychologists, and counselors have seen clients change their lives by changing themselves first. Positive change often begins with positive thinking, and our staff is ready to help.

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

CBT is a therapeutic method that addresses a particular social, emotional, or relational problem that a client presents. It is a proactive and practical way of addressing life’s difficulties. With a therapist’s help, people seek to change their own perspective upon and thinking about a specific difficulty. Cognitive Behavior Therapy can be used to treat challenges such as…

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Insomnia
  • Mood swings
  • Self-destructive habits
  • Anger management
  • Self-mutilation
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Drug and/or alcohol addiction
  • Child and adolescent issues
  • General health issues
  • Relationship issues

How does CBT work in these situations? Consider James, who struggles with anxiety. A week ago, James’ friend said he would email him a few dates for a potential weekend to go skiing. Since then, James has not heard from his friend. James is growing angrier with his friend and is telling himself that his friend does not want to go skiing with him. This is an example of negative thinking—a cognitive distortion. James does not know why his friend has not emailed him. Maybe his friend had a busy week at work and simply has not had time to look at his calendar. Instead of indulging negative thoughts, James could be proactive and contact his friend, asking him how his week has been instead of assuming the worst.

CBT is most effective when it focuses upon a client’s response to a specific issue. Because it zeroes in on a particular challenge, CBT is a short-term therapeutic model. A counselor may work with a client for six months to one year, meeting once a week for a 50-minute session. Often, clients will be assigned homework. Homework may include activities like journaling to identify negative thought patterns and potentially different responses.

Cognitive Distortions and the Problem’s Roots

Cognitive distortions occur when people interpret their circumstances inaccurately and negatively. There are specific negative thought patterns that can entrap people. Cognitive behavioral therapy does not try to fix an individual’s circumstances, but it seeks to identify any cognitive distortions the individual may hold. Once these are identified, they can be replaced with more accurate and positive thinking. Possible cognitive distortions may be…

  • Polarized or “black and white” thinking means people are see everything as perfect or terrible, good or evil, pure or tainted. It is all-or-nothing thinking.
  • Blaming means people are always looking for someone or something to place fault upon.
  • Catastrophizing means people expect the worst.
  • Control fallacies have two versions. External control places blame upon luck, fate, or a natural power for life’s circumstances. Internal control means people take responsibility for circumstances that are not within their control—such as when a child blames themself a parent’s divorce.
  • Filtering means people put a negative spin on every situation and dismiss positive realities.
  • Overgeneralization means people take one experience and interpret life through that one event.
  • Emotional reasoning means people equate their feelings with reality despite contrary evidence.
  • Personalization means people take others’ actions as a direct reflection of themselves.
  • Fairness fallacy means people use an irrational standard of fairness to evaluate their life. They may live their lives comparing themselves to others.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with the Counselors at Thriveworks Alexandria, VA (Franconia)

What is happening in your life right now and how you are responding? If you recognized some of the listed cognitive distortions, you may be ready to make a change—within yourself. If you are ready, Thriveworks Alexandria is too.

When you contact our office to schedule an appointment, you may be meeting with your therapist the following day. We do not keep a waitlist, but we do offer evening and weekend appointments. We also accept most insurance plans. Let’s work together to make a positive change. Call Thriveworks Alexandria today.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our Alexandria therapists and counselors accept 28 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Virginia Medicare Advantage

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Virginia | BCBS PPO

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • CareFirst Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia | BCBS HMO

  • CareFirst Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia | BCBS PPO

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

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Self-pay costs at Alexandria
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

4.9 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
I was very satisfied with first session/consultation with my therapist. I feel confident she will address my needs and look forward to working with her.
Read more I was very satisfied with first session/consultation with my therapist. I feel confident she will address my needs and look forward to working with her.
Marjorie Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
At 75 years old and still learning is wonderful. My counselor is simply an outstanding individual and human being. The "bank is closed", I understand more clearly by my counselor who, have been instrumental in " breaking down some walls" in my forward motion and healing from the pain
Read more At 75 years old and still learning is wonderful. My counselor is simply an outstanding individual and human being. The "bank is closed", I understand more clearly by my counselor who, have been instrumental in " breaking down some walls" in my forward motion and healing from the pain
Horace Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Bank closure is fundamentally when a financial institution goes bankrupt; however, parents can't go into bank closure for their children, family, and friends. Nevertheless, parents do close their bank (hearth) to minimize disrespect, abuse, and abundant misuse of LOVE. So I closed my life to abuse, disrespect, and misuse of ❤️
Read more Bank closure is fundamentally when a financial institution goes bankrupt; however, parents can't go into bank closure for their children, family, and friends. Nevertheless, parents do close their bank (hearth) to minimize disrespect, abuse, and abundant misuse of LOVE. So I closed my life to abuse, disrespect, and misuse of ❤️
Horace Jan 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★
I am very happy with my therapist, I would give him 5 Stars but I am handicapped and the facility I go to has No Handicap access, No ramp or elevator and is on the third floor of a three story building.
Read more I am very happy with my therapist, I would give him 5 Stars but I am handicapped and the facility I go to has No Handicap access, No ramp or elevator and is on the third floor of a three story building.
Ed Jan 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
My therapist, Dee Jacobi Edwards, continues to help me deal with my individual struggles in life so that I can achieve peace in dealing with life situations. She is a wonderful therapist.
Read more My therapist, Dee Jacobi Edwards, continues to help me deal with my individual struggles in life so that I can achieve peace in dealing with life situations. She is a wonderful therapist.
Louisa Dec 2023
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★
Love our therapist.
Heidi Dec 2023
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
My daughter's dad and I had a few sessions with Dee Jacobi-Edwards and she was great. She was very neutral and honest with both of us when it came to our disagreements and downfalls. She was also extremely patient with us throughout our sessions. I would absolutely recommend Dee.
Read more My daughter's dad and I had a few sessions with Dee Jacobi-Edwards and she was great. She was very neutral and honest with both of us when it came to our disagreements and downfalls. She was also extremely patient with us throughout our sessions. I would absolutely recommend Dee.
Alexandria Mar 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I have been battling anxiety and depression for years, and Mary Alice Fields has helped me finally find some relief. She is dedicated to helping her clients live their best possible life, and she has helped me gain some peace in my life. I know she has help countless others, and I would highly recommend her to anyone who suffers from depression or anxiety issues.
Read more I have been battling anxiety and depression for years, and Mary Alice Fields has helped me finally find some relief. She is dedicated to helping her clients live their best possible life, and she has helped me gain some peace in my life. I know she has help countless others, and I would highly recommend her to anyone who suffers from depression or anxiety issues.
Alexandria Jan 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Alexandria is located off of Franconia Rd., just behind Oak Tree Plaza. We share a building with MRM Associates. Right next door to us is a MakeSpace, and the closest bus stop is at Franconia Rd. & Beulah St.

Phone number

(703) 454-8246

Languages spoken by VA providers

  • Portuguese
  • English
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in ET

Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in ET

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