Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Why CBT?

What we love about CBT is that it’s solution-focused, goal-oriented, and clients see improvements relatively quickly. CBT is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that derives from the understanding that our feelings and reactions to our experiences are largely influenced by the beliefs we hold about them and the meanings we attach to them. CBT stems from constructivist theory, meaning that humans have a responsibility for their reactions. Recognizing one’s responsibility unveils an ability to make beneficial changes.

What is REBT?

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) was initially developed by Dr. Albert Ellis in the 1950’s - around the same time that Aaron T. Beck, M.D. was developing Cognitive Therapy (CT). Both are forms of CBT, and there are many similarities between the two, regarding theory, technique, and style; however, they also differ in important ways.

Albert Ellis first developed REBT in 1955 with considerable influence from his studies in Stoic, Zen Buddhism, and existentialism philosophy. REBT can help you cope well with problems of yesterday, today, and tomorrow with time tested principles in philosophy and psychology. It is especially useful when your worst fears have come true, or may well come to pass.

REBT has been shown through numerous empirical studies to be effective in treating depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, inadequacy beliefs, and more. REBT can help you overcome your overwhelming feelings so you can manage stressors in your life the best way you can. With REBT, almost anyone can improve the way they feel, their habits, and lingering unhealthy feelings about the past.

REBT is a method of psychotherapy and an existential philosophy. It can help you take ownership of your life through your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In recognizing your responsibility, there is an incredible depth and breadth of power that awaits you to improve and change. In this way, REBT is very empowering method of psychotherapy.

In REBT, a distinction is made between feeling better and getting better. Noting these differences in psychotherapy is important. Most people start to feel better when they meet with a supportive and understanding listener. This is a welcomed start to any treatment process. REBT aims to go further than immediate relief and help you fundamentally become more adept at handling life’s ups and downs so that the frequency, intensity, and duration of emotional pain and suffering in your life decreases. Philosophically shifting your reactions to life’s ups and down is part of getting better, which subsequently leads to feeling better in the long term.

Some common concerns about CBT addressed:

Does CBT really go deep enough?

Because CBT generally addresses problems in the present tense rather than intensively analyzing the past, it is sometimes confused with not being a “deep” therapy. This notion, however, is misguided. CBT addresses the root cause of psychological disturbance by focusing on what you believe in the here-and-now about the past, present, and future.

Is CBT emotionally sensitive?

CBT is a client-centered psychotherapy. As such, any and all feelings you present are received openly and without judgement. In CBT, emotions are never labeled as right or wrong. We will unconditionally accept you, your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and help you develop the changes you are looking for.

Is CBT limited to a certain number of sessions?

There is no preset number of sessions that CBT must be utilized within. It’s not a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits all approach. Because CBT is empirically supported, it is often the treatment method of choice by practitioners when the session number is limited. There is no minimum or maximum number of sessions required for CBT to be effective.