CBT therapy

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is used to treat a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, OCD, phobias, panic disorder, eating disorders, and insomnia. It is also used to address chronic stress, relationship difficulties, and patterns of negative thinking that affect daily functioning. Because CBT is structured and skills-based, it is often recommended when a person wants a goal-oriented approach to therapy with measurable progress.

The core techniques in CBT include cognitive restructuring (identifying and challenging unhelpful thought patterns), behavioral activation (gradually re-engaging with avoided activities), thought records (written exercises that examine the evidence for and against a belief), and exposure exercises (facing feared situations in a controlled, gradual way). A therapist may also use Socratic questioning and homework assignments designed to practice skills between sessions.

CBT is typically a short- to medium-term therapy, with most structured CBT programs running between 12 and 20 sessions. The length depends on the presenting issue, its severity, and how consistently the skills are practiced outside of sessions. Some people see meaningful progress in as few as 8 sessions; others with more complex presentations may benefit from a longer course of treatment.

Traditional talk therapy (sometimes called psychodynamic or insight-oriented therapy) often focuses on exploring past experiences and understanding how they shaped current patterns, without a structured agenda. CBT is more directive: sessions follow a structure, and the focus is on identifying specific thought patterns and behaviors that are maintaining a problem right now, then building skills to change them. CBT also involves between-session practice (often called homework), which distinguishes it from more open-ended exploratory therapy.

CBT is one of the most researched and effective treatments for anxiety disorders, with decades of clinical trial evidence supporting its use for generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder, and specific phobias. The approach works by helping clients identify the thought patterns that fuel anxiety (such as overestimating threat or underestimating coping ability) and by using behavioral techniques, including gradual exposure, to reduce avoidance. Most clients with anxiety see meaningful symptom reduction within 12 to 16 sessions.

Yes. Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) are evidence-based CBT variants specifically designed for PTSD. These approaches help clients process traumatic memories and challenge the beliefs that trauma often produces, such as self-blame or the belief that the world is entirely unsafe. In this practice, CBT for trauma is integrated with somatic and nervous system approaches to address how trauma is held in the body as well as in thought patterns.

The first session is an intake and assessment. Your therapist will ask about what brought you to therapy, your history, your current symptoms, and what you are hoping to change. You will have the opportunity to ask questions about how CBT works and whether it is a good fit for your goals. By the end of the first session, most clients have a preliminary sense of the focus areas and an idea of what the work will involve.

CBT and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) are related but not the same. DBT was developed from CBT and shares its emphasis on identifying thought and behavior patterns, but adds a specific focus on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. DBT was originally designed for borderline personality disorder and chronic suicidality, and it includes both individual therapy and skills group components. CBT is the broader category; DBT is a specialized adaptation within it.

Yes. CBT sessions are available virtually to clients throughout Florida and Connecticut, in addition to in-person sessions in Palm Beach. Virtual therapy sessions are conducted via a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform and are equivalent in structure and effectiveness to in-person CBT for most presenting issues. If you are unsure whether virtual therapy is appropriate for your situation, this can be discussed during a free consultation call.

CBT works primarily at the cognitive and behavioral level, targeting thoughts and actions. Somatic therapy works at the body level, addressing how stress, anxiety, and trauma are held in the nervous system through physical sensations, posture, and physiological responses. In this practice, CBT and somatic approaches (including Somatic Experiencing) are integrated when clinically appropriate, because changing thought patterns is often more sustainable when nervous system regulation work supports it. Not every client needs both, but having both available allows for a more complete treatment approach.