COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY VANCOUVER

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an approach to psychotherapy that focuses on the relationship between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It is a structured and goal-oriented approach that aims to understand and change both how you think (“cognitive”) and what you do (“behaviour”) in order to resolve challenges and reduce psychological distress. CBT is a widely recognized and effective treatment for a variety of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and self-worth.

How does Cognitive Behavioural Therapy work?

In CBT therapists will help you identify and challenge negative and irrational thoughts that contribute to your distress. By recognizing the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, clients can learn to break unhelpful cycles of thinking such as catastrophic thinking and/or worst case scenario thinking.

Cognitive behavioral therapy emphasizes the importance of our interpretation of events rather than the event itself.

Through CBT, your counsellor can help you change your thinking patterns by:

  • Learning to recognize cognitive distortions and patterns of thinking that contribute to distress

  • Reevaluating negative patterns of thought and replacing them with more positive, balanced thoughts

  • Developing problem-solving skills to better cope with difficult situations

  • Gaining insight into the behavior and motivations of others

CBT treatment also involves efforts to change behavioral patterns. Strategies might include:

  • Practicing relaxation techniques to calm the mind and relax the body

  • Using role-play to prepare for situations or interactions which often cause distress

  • Developing skills and habits which support the client’s ability to cope with difficult situations 

  • Confronting situations or stimuli that trigger anxiety or fear, in a controlled and supportive environment

CBT Therapy is for you if you want to:

  • Identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs

  • Change your negative self-talk to positive self-talk

  • Unblock the path to engaging in the activities that bring you joy

  • Take action and increase your engagement in things that bring you joy

  • Learn relaxation and stress reducing techniques

  • Shift and challenge how you perceive yourself, others & the world

  • Build your problem solving tool kit

Is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Effective?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is the most researched modality in therapy and therefore is seen to be the most evidenced-based practice. Research has shown that CBT is an effective treatment for a range of mental health conditions and emotional challenges such as:

Are you feeling stuck in unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors? If so, the structured and evidence based CBT approach may be just what you need.

At Gather & Ground, we have trained therapists who specialize in CBT. Our therapists use a range of techniques to help our clients overcome their challenges and work collaboratively with our clients to set goals and develop personalized treatment plans that address your specific needs. We believe that everyone has the capacity to heal and grow, and we are committed to helping our clients achieve their goals and improve their quality of life using the approach that best suits them.

Contact us today to learn more. Do you feel consumed by anxious thoughts in relationships? Do you constantly seek reassurance? Or perhaps do you struggle to communicate and easily shutdown?