One in five American adults experience mental illness like depression or anxiety. Each year, almost 10% of American adults go to counseling or therapy to improve their mental health.
There are many different methods of psychological treatment, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most common. It’s a complex methodology that’s backed with years of research, and it’s highly individualized.
At Boston Neurobehavioral Associates, we specialize in CBT for conditions that include:
Our therapists work together with patients to understand their problems and find ways to address them. CBT is popular and effective, but there are still some misconceptions about how it works. Keep reading as we debunk some common myths about CBT!
CBT is focused on identifying and challenging negative thoughts, leading many people to assume that it’s just positive thinking. It’s true that CBT works to find patterns of negative or irrational thought, but the solution for mental health conditions isn’t simply to “think happier thoughts.”
In CBT, you work with your therapist to develop the skills you need to change the way you think about the world. You learn to frame your thoughts in ways that are more helpful and less destructive, rather than “more positive” and “less negative.”
CBT is a well-known method of therapy that utilizes specific tools. The central idea is that human behavior is learned and it can be changed to improve mental health, but it’s in no way a one-size-fits-all treatment.
Your therapist partners with you to understand your unique problems and the emotions that come along with them. During therapy, you begin to understand yourself better, uncover your core beliefs, and learn why your brain works the way it does.
Together, you and your therapist develop an individualized treatment plan. You get help to implement purposeful behavior changes, coping mechanisms, and relaxation techniques to improve your life.
Therapy can be a complex, emotional process. Many people are worried that they’ll need to spend years going to therapy to see a difference in the way they feel, but CBT can start working after just a few sessions.
CBT is particularly effective for specific problems in your life. Your therapist can help you understand those problems and give you tools to resolve them. In some cases, you might need just a few sessions to start feeling better. For more complex problems, you may benefit from CBT for several months or longer.
Therapy, and particularly CBT, is a flexible method that’s constantly evolving. If you’re struggling with symptoms of a mental health disorder, CBT could make a difference.
Find the Boston Neurobehavioral Associates office nearest you to schedule your first appointment over the phone or online.
