CBT is goal-oriented and tends to be shorter-term than traditional talk therapy. The specific therapies described below fall within the CBT umbrella and have been supported by the most up-to-date research available for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and related disorders. They are utilized in a harmonious manner that is most consistent with one’s treatment needs.

 
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Cognitive Behavioral THERAPY

Specialized types of CBT are offered to treat different symptoms and conditions.

 
 

Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT) is an umbrella term for modalities and techniques that share a focus on:

  • thoughts and behaviors that maintain symptoms

  • trying out new behaviors

  • changing how we relate to our internal and external experiences
    (e.g., reducing perceived threat)

  • between-session practice of skills


EXPOSURE AND RESPONSE PREVENTION (ERP)

The most effective approach for overcoming any fear is to face it. Exposure involves directly and gradually facing the uncomfortable situations and/or thoughts that trigger distress and avoidance. By doing this in a stepwise fashion, one is able to habituate or get used to that situation or thought.

In addition to facing one’s fear, ERP involves limiting responses that would interfere with the habituation process. Thus, response prevention focuses on resisting urges to engage in compulsions and other behaviors that generate a false sense of safety, such as reassurance-seeking. These behaviors often decrease distress or anxiety in the short-term, but their effectiveness decreases over time and ultimately reinforces one’s fears.

 

COGNITIVE THERAPY

Cognitive therapy is an educational process in which the therapist teaches the client how to identify irrational and self-defeating thoughts and beliefs. The client learns to question and dispute thoughts that are rigid and illogical, and replace them with more rational and self-helping ones.

 

ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY (ACT)

ACT concentrates on increasing willingness to experience emotional pain, especially when avoidance of this pain (or the possibility of future pain) prevents one from living a fulfilling and meaningful life. This pattern of avoidance creates suffering and leads to other long-term, negative consequences. Thus, the focus of ACT is on promoting alternative ways of relating to emotional pain while clarifying what matters to you and increasing valued behaviors.

 

BEHAVIORAL ACTIVATION

Behavioral Activation emphasizes engaging in positive life activities. This technique has been shown to be especially important for the treatment of depression, with the goal of increasing one’s participation in activities that are currently avoided because of depressed mood or feelings of isolation. In treatment, we often start with the easiest of activities or those that are likely to bring the greatest sense of accomplishment and/or pleasure. We look to intervene on behaviors and environmental factors that may be maintaining or worsening depressive symptoms.

 

HABIT REVERSAL TRAINING

A behavioral approach used to treat a variety of body focused repetitive behaviors such as skin picking and hair pulling. It involves building awareness of thought/behavioral patterns, identifying more adaptive replacement behaviors, and developing new ways of tolerating the distress underlying developed habits.

 

COGNITIVE PROCESSING THERAPY (CPT)

Based on the principles of cognitive therapy, CPT involves a structured, sequenced approach to address the unique needs of each patient suffering from PTSD and/or depression.