Our therapists offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in Raleigh, NC

When providing cognitive behavioral therapy, my goal is to help clients understand the relationship between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors so that they can make meaningful changes that promote growth in their lives. This can be done by helping the individual challenge and reframe thought patterns that may be negatively impacting them, and by identifying specific behavior changes that they want to make in their life.

Some of the tools that I teach in cognitive behavioral therapy include:

• Thought challenging: This skill helps clients identify the influence of negative thought patterns or beliefs related to their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and then challenge them with growth-oriented responses.
• Behavioral activation: In this skill, I help individuals to identify and change behavior patterns that are negatively impacting their emotional state and help them increase motivation to work toward their desired goals.
• Mindfulness skills: These skills help individuals identify what emotions and thoughts they are experiencing in a nonjudgmental way. Additionally, these skills help individuals respond to these thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a positive manner.

I find that clients are making meaningful progress when they express they can disrupt thought patterns that are negatively impacting them, increase participation in desired behaviors, and develop consistent routines that promote positive mental health in their daily lives.

Clients can best supplement their time in cognitive behavioral therapy by setting aside time between sessions for reflection and practicing the skills discussed in the session. I often find that keeping a reflective journal about one's thoughts and emotions between sessions leads to the best outcomes for cognitive behavioral therapy.

A few reflective questions that I would encourage clients preparing to start cognitive behavioral therapy to consider are:

• What are my goals related to therapy and what behaviors would I like to change?
• Are there any common themes to thought patterns that I often find myself stuck in?
• What emotions tend to come up for me when I am feeling stuck in certain thought patterns?