Cognitive Behavioral therapist, in virginia

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, also known as CBT, looks at the connection between a situation and one’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. With this theory, we find that when a situation happens, we start to tell ourselves different things about the situation, ourselves, the other people involved, and/or the world. Once we attach our thoughts (the things we tell ourselves) to the situation, we then start to feel (i.e., happy, sad, disgruntled, irritated, etc.) a certain way. Then we respond to the situation (i.e., disengage from the conversation, lash out, retaliate, storm off, etc.). If this pattern is indeed the case, then we should be able to change the way we are responding in situations, by changing the thoughts we are telling ourselves. 

In order to accomplish this, you and the therapist will first start by identifying the behaviors you want to change. Once that has occurred, the therapist will assist you in recognizing your thoughts in those situations and work to challenge and change negative automatic thoughts to be more realistic and balanced. By working to challenge and replace these thoughts, we should then see a change in both the emotional reaction and behavioral response.  

With this type of therapy, we are helping to change one’s way of thinking, and just like learning any new skills, we need to practice. Due to this, homework is required with this form of therapy. As you learn different tools in CBT, you will be assigned homework to utilize those taught skills in different situations throughout the week. You and the therapist will discuss in session what it looks like to use these skills outside of session and situations in which they are applicable.