Our therapists offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in Cary, NC

I often utilize cognitive behavioral therapy in my work with clients to help them identify their distorted thoughts, challenge these thoughts logically, and then reframe these thoughts in a way that helps them manage their stress and emotions. I enjoy helping clients find new ways of thinking and utilizing metaphors in a way that increases their understanding, hope, and patience with the struggles of life.

I teach the following skills in CBT:

• Identifying cognitive distortions - There are over 10 forms of distorted thinking that people frequently utilize.
• Challenging distortions - Examining the evidence, or lack of evidence, for the thought or belief.
• Reframing distortions - Creating new thought patterns that the client believes and finds helpful.

Clients who are effectively responding to CBT will find it increasingly easier to correct distorted thinking patterns until the point that they are more naturally trained to seek the healthy thought pattern in their initial reaction to a stressor. Like any other change, it often requires more focus and effort in the beginning stages of changing a pattern.

To supplement their therapeutic work, clients can engage in cognitive behavioral therapy homework assigned by the clinician as well as explore CBT-related material such as “The Feeling Good Handbook” by Dr. David Burns.

To prepare for their first CBT session, an individual can present the main areas of their life in which they are struggling and then proceed to share their thoughts about these areas. I and other CBT clinicians will work with these thoughts and help you understand how your thoughts are directly connected to your emotions, which also create action urges for which an individual may have to spend additional energy managing these emotion-driven impulses. CBT will operate as a method of emotional energy conservation for an individual.