What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

When it comes to seeking help for your mental health, finding the right treatment method and facility can be a challenge. There are different types of therapy, but not all of them will be the right fit for your needs. You might have heard of a treatment process called cognitive behavioral therapy that deals with changing feelings and behavioral patterns. But what is cognitive behavioral therapy?

If you are searching for the answer and somewhere you can get help, The Willough at Naples facility can help you learn coping strategies to better manage you mental health through our impatient treatment for mental illness, co-occuring substance abuse, and more.

Keep reading for information on cognitive behavioral therapy to see if it’s right for you and how our facility can help you benefit from evidence-based therapeutic treatments.

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

Before you can decide if cognitive behavioral therapy is right for you, you need to know “What is cognitive behavioral therapy?”

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapeutic treatment that teaches individuals how to identify and alter thoughts and behaviors that can be destructive or harmful. Through therapy sessions, individuals work to improve these emotional and behavioral thought patterns to improve their daily functioning and quality of life. The focus is on altering automatic negative thoughts and feelings that contribute to long-term symptoms of a variety of mental health conditions.

This type of treatment has been proven to be effective in treating a number of mental health conditions including:

• Anxiety
• Panic Disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Depression
• Bipolar Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Eating Disorders
• Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

The American Psychological Association considers cognitive behavioral therapy to be a more effective treatment option than alternative therapy and medication methods. CBT includes a variety of approaches and techniques that address maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. In laymen’s terms, they help stop negative self-thinking. And there’s strong evidence that this approach works. Medical reviewers have found that multi-session CBT had a higher efficacy rate and lower drop out rate than alternative single-session or brief intervention visits for addiction and substance abuse disorder.

How Does CBT Work?

Now that you have an answer to the question, “What is cognitive behavioral therapy?” you need to know how it works. There are different approaches and techniques. These approaches focus on the most helpful strategies to overcome unwanted thought patterns for each individual. Some of the most popular strategies include journaling, methods of relaxation, and role-playing.

And thankfully, there are few risks when it comes to cognitive behavioral therapy. However, you will experience emotional discomfort at times while you work to process your emotions and experiences. It’s not uncommon to feel sad, upset, or physically tired during or after a session. This is a normal part of the process that will get easier as you discover new coping skills to manage your feelings.

The Willough at Naples offers a dual diagnosis program for adults who are struggling with drug and/or alcohol abuse with a co-occurring mental illness. And one of our evidence-based programs is cognitive behavioral therapy. By employing CBT therapeutic techniques, we help address the root cause of both addiction and mental illness in order to provide the best treatment outcomes for our patients.

Identifying Negative Thoughts

The first step in CBT is learning how to identify the thoughts, feelings, and current situations contributing to maladaptive behavior. This can be a difficult step for anyone who struggles with introspection. But learning how to identify negative thoughts and what is causing them is an essential part of the treatment plan that will be beneficial to you in the long run.

Medical reviewers have linked an individual’s beliefs about themselves and the world around them with automatic thoughts that contribute to these maladaptive behaviors. Identifying and processing the initial thoughts will break the cycle.

Becoming More Aware of Emotions and Behaviors

The next step helps you to identify the negative thoughts behind the emotions and behaviors you plan to work on. You will become more aware of where they stem from by asking and answering questions. These emotions and behaviors can stem from a wide range of conditions and situations in your life, such as health issues, a divorce or breakup, grief, or a mental health disorder.

This step requires you to observe the way you interact with yourself. This includes how you speak to yourself, your interpretation of the situations that cause negative thoughts, and your perception of yourself and others. Keeping a journal may be beneficial as you work on becoming more self-aware.

Practicing Altered Behaviors and Thoughts

Lastly, practicing new behaviors and thought patterns is tricky when the old patterns feel like they’re ingrained in your personality. However, with practice, this step will become easier. You will be encouraged to differentiate between situations based on fact and those created through a potentially inaccurate perception. This will help you redirect the thoughts and feelings that dictate your behavior. And redirection will eventually lead to habits that require less effort than in the beginning.

How to Get The Most Out of Mental Health Treatment

Now that you know what CBT does, how do you get the most out of this therapeutic treatment? To reach this goal, it’s important to come into treatment with an open mind. It can feel awkward or uncomfortable to address underlying core beliefs, but changing them is the only way to improve your mental health and wellbeing.

You may continue to question, “What is cognitive behavioral therapy?” as you learn more throughout treatments. The best way to see results is to:

• View your treatment plan as a partnership. Our multi-disciplinary team will work with you to create the most effective treatment plan for your circumstances. The process will work the best as long as you remain an active participant by sharing and contributing to the treatment sessions.
• Be honest. How well the treatment works depends on your willingness to be honest. Our psychiatrists, social workers, mental health therapists, and unit staff are here to evaluate your needs.
• Stick to your treatment plan and goals. You might be tempted to skip sessions or stop doing the work discussed in sessions. You may go through periods where you lack motivation or feel overwhelmed. This is a healthy part of confronting new parts of yourself.

Get Mental Health Support in Naples, Florida

Now that you have an answer to the question, “What is cognitive behavioral therapy?” You should have a better idea if this treatment process is right for you. You can seek treatment at our mental health and addiction treatment center, The Willough at Naples. We offer multiple levels of 24/7 patient care to meet the needs of all our patients staying at the facility.

If you have any questions about the programs we offer and how we can help, call our office at (239) 688-3063. You can also fill out a confidential contact form with any of your questions or concerns. We are eager to help you create better patterns of thought and behavior to reach a happier state of mind.