Our therapists offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in Philadelphia, PA

I use cognitive behavioral therapy as a supplement to many other therapies depending on a client's particular need. When I introduce CBT, I start by introducing the theory behind the modality to help shift a client's therapeutic perspective. Once the client has demonstrated a basic understanding of the fundamental principles, I then introduce the many skills and interventions of CBT as CBT is a skill- and intervention-focused therapy. Many clients like CBT for its practical and applicable nature, and how once learned, it can be applied without the need for a therapist's presence.

Some of the skills that I introduce from the CBT model include:

• Mindfulness - Nonjudgmental awareness of internal and external experiences.
• Cognitive restructuring - This involves modifying a thought to be more helpful and productive.
• Thought stopping - Interrupting a distressing thought and the pattern of behavior that may follow the thought.
• Thought recording - The formal process of mapping out the progression of experiences that follow a trigger and/or unhelpful thought.

I know when a client is making meaningful progress when they are meeting their goals and objective with regularity, and when they are able to adapt CBT skills and processes independently without prompting.

Clients can supplement their time in cognitive behavioral therapy by engaging in thought recording/journaling. This serves as a practice to then automate various skills such as cognitive restructuring and thought-stopping.

To prepare for their first cognitive behavioral therapy session, an individual can come with an open mind and readiness to think for an orientation likely different than the norm.