What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — the gold-standard for treating anxiety — is a collaborative, goal-oriented, action-focused, short-term treatment.  CBT has years of solid research demonstrating its effectiveness in treating anxiety, OCD and related disorders across populations and cultures, based on the idea that the way we think and feel affects the way we behave.  To make meaningful change in life, it’s necessary to interrupt the cycle of negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The “cognitive” part of therapy means working to identify, challenge, and change unhelpful thoughts, while the “behavioral” part means working to change unhelpful actions—avoiding less and doing more.  As an active therapy, CBT involves keeping thought logs and working alongside me on “behavioral exposures” where clients gradually face fearful objects, people and situations. Through CBT, clients will create a personalized toolbox of effective strategies both to prevent anxiety, and to address it in the moment.