When it comes to taking care of your mental health, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has become a trusted and effective option. This type of therapy focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors that can contribute to emotional struggles. Since its development in the mid-20th century, CBT has helped countless people manage challenges like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. At Safe Harbor Behavioral Care, with 100 locations across the mid-Atlantic region, CBT is a key part of the mental health services offered.
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
CBT is a practical, goal-focused approach to therapy. It’s built on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are closely connected. When we fall into negative thought patterns, it can impact how we feel and act, often creating a cycle of distress. CBT helps break this cycle by teaching people to recognize unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more balanced and constructive ones.
Unlike some other types of therapy that delve deeply into the past, CBT is usually focused on the present. It’s also a relatively short-term therapy, with sessions designed to address specific concerns and build practical skills that can be used every day.
How Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Work?
CBT is a partnership between you and your therapist, and it often includes the following steps:
- Assessment: You and your therapist work together to identify the issues you want to address and set clear goals for therapy.
- Spotting Negative Thoughts: You’ll learn to recognize automatic negative thoughts and beliefs that influence how you feel and behave.
- Challenging and Changing Thoughts: Your therapist will guide you in questioning the accuracy of these thoughts and replacing them with more realistic and helpful ones.
- Behavioral Techniques: CBT often includes strategies like exposure therapy, where you gradually face your fears, or activities to build healthier habits.
- Building Skills: You’ll develop tools for coping with stress, solving problems, and managing your emotions more effectively.
What Can CBT Help With?
CBT is a flexible therapy that can help with a wide range of mental health challenges, including:
- Anxiety Disorders: CBT helps you confront fears and rethink the patterns that fuel anxiety.
- Depression: It’s effective for breaking out of negative thinking cycles and boosting mood.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Trauma-focused CBT helps you process and reframe painful memories.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Specialized techniques like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) can reduce OCD symptoms.
- Eating Disorders: CBT addresses unhelpful beliefs about body image and supports healthier behaviors.
Why Choose Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
CBT has become a go-to choice for many because of its practical and results-oriented approach:
- Proven Results: Research consistently shows CBT’s effectiveness for a variety of conditions.
- Focused and Goal-Driven: You work toward clear, measurable goals.
- Short-Term Commitment: Many people see significant improvements in just 8-12 sessions.
- Everyday Tools: CBT teaches skills you can use long after therapy ends.
- Flexible Options: It works well in individual or group settings and can be adapted to fit your needs.
Safe Harbor Behavioral Care: Bringing CBT to Your Community
At Safe Harbor Behavioral Care, CBT is just one part of the comprehensive mental health services we provide. With locations in Bel Air, White Marsh, Towson, Baltimore, Ellicott City, Bowie, Waldorf, Upper Marlboro, and many other communities, we make it easy to access high-quality care. Our therapists often combine CBT with other approaches to create a personalized plan that fits your unique needs.
How to Get Started with CBT
Finding the right therapist is an important first step. At Safe Harbor Behavioral Care, our licensed therapists are trained in CBT and ready to help. We offer both in-person and online sessions, so you can choose what works best for you. Take a look at our counselors by clicking here.
For more information about mental health counseling and medication management in Baltimore, contact Safe Harbor Behavioral Care today or call us at (410) 838-9500. Would you like to schedule online? We have booking available for a limited number of providers, here. If you can’t find what you need, please contact us directly.
