Our therapists offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in Colorado Springs, CO

My go-to approach for helping people in cognitive behavioral therapy is an eclectic approach in order to individualize care for what my client needs. I find the best benefit in using a mixture of cognitive behavioral therapy, person-centered, and mindfulness because the combination of these three therapies incorporates thoughts, emotions, and bodily awareness. I believe addressing therapeutic issues holistically can be quite effective and address a multitude of clients' needs.

I teach the following tools in cognitive behavioral therapy:

• Awareness: Without awareness, we can't change. How are your thoughts, emotions, and/or body cues influencing you and affecting your choices/behaviors?
• Identifying cognitive distortions: What unhealthy repetitive thought patterns are happening subconsciously?
• Reframing: How we can reframe these negative thought patterns to empower you as the client?
• Curiosity with empowerment: How has previous trauma or events impacted the way you show up presently in life, work, relationships, etc.? How would you rather show up?
• Deep breathing: Breathing exercises to slow down an overworked nervous system and create more self-awareness and safety within your body.

I know a client is making meaningful progress in cognitive behavioral therapy when they are able to start identifying previous patterns of thinking and have enough awareness to recognize the pattern and replace it with a healthier frame or pattern. This then helps them start to make decisions that align with their genuine selves. I love when clients are able to celebrate their hard work and say, “Guess what? I caught myself catastrophizing!” or “I was able to catch my inner critic and show myself compassion instead!”

Clients can supplement their time in cognitive behavioral therapy with journaling, logging their thoughts and reflecting on any patterns, mindful walks or other enjoyable forms of exercise, deep breathing practices at home, engaging in enjoyable hobbies, and social support, along with healthy social media use.

To prepare for your first cognitive behavioral therapy session, you can reflect on what goals you want to work on in therapy, what obstacles have gotten in your way, and what you might need from a therapist. Remember that therapy is about you, so it is important that you find a therapist you connect with and feel empowered and comfortable enough to be vulnerable with.