Our therapists offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in Boca Raton, FL

My go-to approach for helping people in cognitive behavioral therapy is helping clients understand themselves in order to gain self-awareness. I find the most benefit in doing this, as it assists people in making sense of how their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected.

I use cognitive behavioral therapy to help people be more aware of their thoughts and beliefs affect their actions and feelings. I find it is very beneficial in increasing self awareness and changing unhealthy patterns.

I teach the following tools in cognitive behavioral therapy:

• Education on CBT - teaching clients about thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and how they are connected to each other, and teaching cognitive distortions, types of thinking patterns that relate to overwhelm and distress
• Psychoeducation on mental health symptoms - educating clients on their symptoms so they can understand and learn explanations for feeling and thinking a certain way
• Understanding of “cognitive distortions” - defining types of negative thinking patterns
• Journaling - self-reflecting on thoughts, emotions, symptoms, behaviors, and triggers
• Cognitive restructuring - questioning, re-framing, refocusing, and shifting the perspective of specific thoughts
• Goal-setting strategies - identifying goals important and specific to the client, showing the client how to develop more realistic goals in smaller steps that are achievable to help build motivation over time

A few of the tools we can use in cognitive behavioral therapy include relaxed breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, playing the script until the end, and journaling. Each tool has its own benefits and can be used by itself or in conjunction with another technique.

I know a client is making meaningful progress when they are able to notice when a negative thought comes up and are able to take another perspective on their own, or when someone is able to see their growth through the practice of different CBT strategies.

I know a client is making progress using cognitive behavioral therapy when the problem a client initially came for is affecting them at a much lesser level. The client will feel they have adequate resources to cope and respond differently to stressors.

Clients can supplement their time in cognitive behavioral therapy through the use of journaling, CBT strategies practiced outside of sessions, self-monitoring their symptoms, and engaging in a fun activity or hobby to help promote a sense of well-being.

I always encourage clients to pay attention to their eating, sleeping, exercising, and social habits. Making even small changes can have a meaningful impact.

To prepare for their first CBT therapy sessions, an individual can consider their goals for engaging in therapy, what they hope will change by participating in therapy, and the patterns and history of their concerns or symptoms.

Clients can prepare for cognitive behavioral therapy by developing and sharing goals with the therapist after discussing what the therapy process and structure look like.