What is CBT (and Why it Helps)
If you’ve ever explored options for therapy, you may have heard something about CBT (or its longer name - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). The truth is, there is quite a bit of buzz about CBT these days. There is so much research to support CBT - some even consider it the current "gold standard" of psychotherapy - it’s no wonder people are talking about it. So, what exactly is CBT, and who might benefit from this type of therapy?
CBT is an action-oriented, evidence-based therapy that is centered around the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The ways that we think, feel, and behave are all interconnected and influenced by each other. Our thoughts can influence our feelings, our feelings can influence our behaviors, and so forth. This means that if one of those factors (thoughts, feelings, behaviors) is altered or changed, the other factors will also be changed. For example, a change in the way someone is thinking about a situation can completely shift the way they feel and act in that situation. CBT harnesses this idea to help individuals create change in the ways they think, feel, and behave. It may sound simple - or it may sound incredibly complex! Both can be true.
When unhelpful thoughts, maladaptive beliefs, or ineffective coping behaviors take hold, it is easy to feel stuck. This is especially true if anxiety, depression, or any other mental health challenges are in the picture. By engaging in CBT, you and/or your child can work toward getting unstuck through the use of active, effective coping skills and more helpful ways of thinking. These new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving can help you to live a full, meaningful life and get you closer to your values - the things that matter most to you. CBT shows us that the ability to change the ways we think, feel, and behave is a powerful thing.
Most importantly, CBT centers on the relationship between you and/or your child and your therapist. CBT believes that an authentic, meaningful connection is at the heart of change. At Mind, we share this belief. Our therapists understand therapy as a genuine relationship between two (or more) people. This real relationship makes it a lot easier to practice change strategies, generalize skills, and share vulnerable experiences - all in service of helping you and your child live your most meaningful life.
The research demonstrates that CBT is an effective, evidence-based treatment for various mental health conditions, including mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Here at Mind Chicago, we believe in tailoring CBT to the unique context, backgrounds, and needs of each of our clients - including diagnosis, age, race, ethnicity, gender, culture, religion/spirituality, and abilities (just to name a few).
If you want to learn more about CBT and/or determine whether this therapy is a reasonable fit for you or your child, reach out to Mind Chicago today at hello@mindchicago.com.
Authored by Mind Chicago therapist Hannah Romain, LCSW
