Experiencing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be thought of as embarking on a journey of self-discovery and transformative change. The process of receiving CBT treatment is characterized by a collaborative and goal-oriented approach that examines the complex interplay between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that provides individuals with practical tools and strategies to address their challenges and achieve lasting positive change. It has gained wide recognition as an effective form of psychotherapy for individuals experiencing a wide range of mental health concerns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective and versatile therapeutic approach. But just what types of mental health conditions can it help with? While this is not a comprehensive list, here are five conditions that can be effectively treated with CBT:

It can feel strange to think about our brain lying to us, but that is often what happens when we are dealing with social anxiety disorder.

In the throws of social anxiety, our brain takes in information and skews it based on a number of negative assumptions, interpretations, and opinions. Often, this information isn’t accurate. Other times, it is based on experiences that happened months, years, or even decades ago. No matter how far these experiences exist in our history, they can continue to influence our perception of the present. For those with social anxiety, this outdated data can severely impact functioning and can interfere with efforts to make and keep relationships.

It’s no secret that online therapy has proliferated in the U.S. over the last few years. The COVID shutdowns – paired with the mental health challenges that COVID manifested – brought online therapy to the forefront.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – commonly referred to as CBT – is a cornerstone of modern psychotherapy. It is widely supported and acclaimed for what is called evidence-based efficacy. It is prominently supported and practiced because a large body of research supports its effectiveness. CBT has been rigorously tested and has been found to be quite adaptable. This allows CBT to be used to treat a wide range of mental health conditions.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely recognized and effective approach when it comes to treating anxiety.

A basic tenet of CBT is that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all interconnected. Individuals suffering from anxiety often experience distorted or irrational thoughts. These thoughts can generate excessive worry and fear. And then these negative thoughts can lead to unwanted behaviors and a cycle of anxiety begins.

The postpartum period is often marked by hormonal fluctuations, lack of sleep, and stress as parents navigate their new roles. For approximately 10% of parents (moms and dads alike!), this stress progresses into an anxiety disorder, with generalized anxiety disorder being the most commonly diagnosed followed by social anxiety disorder (SAD).

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the term social anxiety has been thrown around as a catchall for the discomfort many felt as restrictions lifted and we began to resume our lives. There has been a plethora of social media memes targeting the unease experienced as the world reopens, and quick tips for getting back into social engagements. This has the benefit of facilitating a shared communal experience and providing meaningful self-help strategies to those experiencing normative social discomfort. However, it too can oversimplify the greater intensity of anxiety, and associated impact, experienced by those with Social Anxiety Disorder.

According to the Cognitive Appraisal Model of OCD, almost everyone has unwelcome thoughts (Rachman, 1998; Salkovskis, 1985). However, for individuals with OCD, the thoughts tend to “stick,” because they are more meaningful and therefore more difficult to dismiss (Rees & Anderson, 2013). In this way, the importance of the thoughts is inflated because, in some regard, their occurrence is more personally relevant. In other words, the fact that these thoughts even occur at all is perceived to be significant and evidence that something is wrong. Therefore, they are seen as more important than they really are.

Part 1 of this blog focused on jump-starting a weight loss program and more general tips for losing weight in middle age. In Part 2, the focus of the tips is on eating and eating out.

As people age, their metabolism slows down with resulting weight gain if energy intake and expenditure are not adjusted. Depending on your activity level, your calorie needs may be reduced by up to 20% from when you were in your twenties (Dietary Guidelines 2015-2020). For people who were thin when they were young, they may be facing the challenge of curbing their eating for the first time in their lives. This can be especially difficult, as they are tasked with breaking a lifetime habit of unconstrained eating. Similarly, for individuals who have struggled with weight gain since childhood, the trial is even more daunting. It is like running a marathon and having to strap on ankle weights for the last 5 miles!