Cognitive behavioral therapy in Charlotte: How to find help

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps us understand the relationships between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Because your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are closely intertwined, changing your thought patterns can help you foster more positive feelings. CBT can help you adopt more realistic thoughts by teaching you new ways to combat and overcome negative thoughts.

Whether you’re starting therapy for the first time or searching for a new CBT therapist, finding the right CBT therapist can feel overwhelming. Here’s how to jumpstart your guide to mental wellness with cognitive behavior therapy.

What is cognitive behavior therapy?

CBT is a form of psychotherapy that combines two therapeutic approaches: cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. As problem-oriented psychotherapy, CBT focuses on the relationships between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

CBT aims to stop negative thinking and behavioral patterns by breaking down what leads to negative feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. CBT can help you rewire your thoughts to achieve a more positive mindset by making your mental health problems more manageable.

CBT is a short-term treatment that helps improve daily functioning and quality of life while reducing mental health symptoms. If you have therapy sessions regularly, you’ll usually meet with your psychotherapist for 5–20 sessions, with each therapy session lasting 30–60 minutes. The length and frequency of your therapy sessions may depend on your therapist’s therapeutic approach.

Is CBT right for you?

Although confronting fears and anxieties can be complex, you’ll work alongside your therapist to learn new skills to deal with challenging situations. Your therapist might provide homework assignments or ask you to work on CBT techniques outside of your therapy sessions. During your appointments, your psychologist will check in to make sure you feel comfortable with the progress you’re making.

An essential part of CBT is that once your therapy sessions are finished, you can continue to apply CBT techniques to your daily life and become your own therapist. While CBT can have major benefits for individuals with mental illness, it can also help individuals better understand their current problems. It helps people better understand their thought and behavioral patterns and improve their mental and emotional well-being.

Clinical trials have shown that CBT is an effective treatment for a wide range of mental health issues, including:

• Anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder and social anxiety
• Eating disorders
• Emotional problems
• Insomnia
• Mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder and depression
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Relationship issues

In addition, CBT is an effective tool for treating emotional distress and altering pain perception in individuals with chronic medical conditions, such as cancer. CBT is an effective treatment for children, adolescents, and adults.

What should you look for in a psychotherapist?

Although searching for a new therapist can feel overwhelming, it’s essential to take the time to find a good fit. According to the American Psychological Association, forming a strong therapeutic relationship with your therapist can boost your long-term mental health outcomes, leading to positive behavior change and thought patterns.

Whether you’re interested in exposure therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, or dialectical behavior therapy, it’s essential to find someone you feel comfortable with. If you’re unsure where to start, you might filter your search for a clinician based on your gender, age, religious affiliation, or specific mental health problems. For example, if you’re experiencing substance use disorder, consider searching for a clinician with experience treating substance use disorders.

Before your first session, don’t be afraid to reach out to potential therapists to discuss different approaches, explore treatment options for your specific problems, and learn more about different CBT interventions. During your initial consultation, you can also discuss other types of therapy, such as psychodynamic therapy and interpersonal therapy.

How To Find a CBT Therapist in Charlotte

To find a CBT therapist in Charlotte, reach out to a psychotherapist through The Therapy Group of Charlotte. We know that finding the right therapist can feel intimidating—and our experienced, empathetic psychologists are here to help you every step of the way. Whether you’re experiencing anxiety symptoms or looking to improve your mental health, one of our therapists will help you start feeling better.