What is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)?
At Thriveworks, Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a widely recognized and evidence-based form of psychotherapy or talk therapy. It focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns, emotions, and behaviors that can contribute to various mental health issues or challenges that people are struggling with.
What does a cognitive behavioral therapist do?
Cognitive behavioral therapists specialize in Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and can help you to identify and comprehend your thought patterns, which often encompass automatic negative thoughts, cognitive distortions, and self-defeating beliefs. Once these negative thought patterns are pinpointed, cognitive behavioral therapists aim to challenge and replace them with the objective of fostering more constructive and logical thinking. In addition, these therapists place significant emphasis on implementing positive behavioral changes based on the newly established, healthier thought patterns.
What is CBT best for?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is particularly effective for addressing conditions like anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. It focuses on identifying and modifying negative thought patterns and behaviors, making it well-suited for issues related to distorted thinking and emotional regulation.
How much does a CBT session cost?
At Thriveworks, we accept most major insurance plans, allowing many clients to pay as little as $0–$50 per session with their co-pay. We also offer self-pay options for those out-of-network or without insurance. Self-pay rates for talk therapy range from $160 to $240 for intake sessions and $135 to $195 for follow-ups, depending on your state. For psychiatry services, self-pay intake sessions are $255–$375, with follow-ups ranging from $175–$300, also varying by state. More information on current self-pay costs is available on our pricing page.
What is the success rate of CBT?
The success rate of CBT varies depending on the intentions of the client and their condition(s).
What is better: CBT or DBT?
The selection between cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is based on an individual’s unique needs and challenges. CBT is commonly chosen for addressing conditions such as anxiety and depression, whereas DBT is especially beneficial for individuals dealing with borderline personality disorder, emotional regulation issues, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
Is CBT conducted in person or online?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with our Thriveworks therapists in Chesterfield, VA is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
How many sessions is CBT?
Generally, CBT is considered a short-term therapy, typically lasting for about 12 to 20 weekly sessions. In some cases, it might extend to around 16 to 20 sessions for more complex issues.
Need more help deciding?
Counseling in Chesterfield, VA—Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Thoughts have significant power in people’s lives. All too often, people cannot adjust their circumstances, but they can always adjust their own thinking.
CBT shows people how to adjust their thinking—making substantial life changes by first changing their perspective on life. Cognitive behavioral therapy may allow…
- Clients and therapists to establish a mutual-working relationship. While therapists understand cognitive distortions and healthy thinking, clients are experts on their own thought patterns. Together, clients and therapists work together for meaningful change.
- Clients to discover how much power they have to control their own thoughts, feelings, and actions.
- Clients to work through a practical challenge—giving them real-life experience with adjusting their own thinking.
- Clients to build cognitive and emotional skills that they can use for the rest of their lives.
The staff at Thriveworks Chesterfield specializes in CBT, and our therapists and counselors have helped many clients make substantial changes in their lives by first adjusting their thinking.
Call or go online to begin working with one of our CBT therapists today.
Examples of Cognitive Distortions
What people think about a situation directly affects their response. Untrue, negative thoughts often lead to unhelpful actions that can sabotage an individual’s best interest. To change these cognitive distortions to more positive, true thoughts, people must first learn to recognize them. A handful of cognitive distortions are the most common, so becoming familiar with these may allow people to more easily recognize them in their own lives. Examples include…
- Emotional reasoning cannot distinguish between an internal feeling and an external reality. For example, many spouses of addicts feel guilty for their loved one’s compulsive behaviors even though they are in no way responsible for another’s choice. The feeling of guilt does not automatically correlate to the reality of guilt.
- Filtering sees life through a lens that separates out anything positive or beneficial. It consigns the good to a category of unimportant. People, therefore, only see the negative.
- Catastrophizing anticipates the worst possible outcome for every situation.
- The fallacy of fairness uses an arbitrary measure to compare and contrast one’s life with another’s instead of measuring one’s own life for its unique merits.
- Blaming seeks to find responsibility and fault in every situation, even when there is none or when doing so is not beneficial. People become obsessed with blame.
- Polarized or “black and white” thinking does not allow for grey or shades. It sees life as all-or-nothing. Everything is fantastic or terrible. People are good or evil. There is no in-between.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: How Does It Work?
The goal of CBT is to replace cognitive distortions with more positive thought patterns. Within their therapy sessions, clients may:
- Learn the difference between emotions and thoughts. People may experience feelings and thinking as the same, but learning the difference is key to being able to exert more control over them.
- Increase their own awareness of thoughts and feelings. CBT especially focuses on how an individual’s emotions and thoughts influence each other and influence their actions. Counselors may assign clients homework that includes self-reflection exercises to increase their self-awareness.
- Allow people to assess their thoughts and feelings from a critical distance. This evaluation can allow people to recognize potential cognitive distortions.
- Practice cognitive and emotional skills that will help people adjust their thinking before cognitive distortions escalate to actions.
Appointments for CBT at Thriveworks Chesterfield
One of the benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy is that it can be utilized in a wide array of circumstances that people face. Counselors have used CBT to treat…
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Self-destructive habits
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Drug and/or alcohol addiction
- Child and adolescent issues
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Anger management
- Self-mutilation
- General health issues
- Relationship issues
What is happening in your life right now? Whether the particular challenge you are facing is on this list or not, consider cognitive behavioral therapy. Changing your perspective often leads to significant and important life changes.
If you are ready to meet with a therapist, Thriveworks Chesterfield has appointments available for CBT. When you call our office, one of our scheduling specialists will answer and help you make an appointment.
We also work with many insurance companies and offer evening and weekend sessions. Call Thriveworks Chesterfield today for an appointment, or book online to get started receiving CBT.
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