Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive therapy is based on the cognitive model which asserts that our thoughts and perceptions of events strongly influence our emotions and behaviors. It is not a situation in and of itself that determines what we feel, but the way in which we interpret it. Feelings follow thinking and therefore our thinking has power over our emotions!

The practice of cognitive therapy began from the clinical observations and systematic studies of Aaron T. Beck MD. He theorized that there was a thinking problem at the heart of many mental health and relational problems based on the way the patient viewed their specific circumstances and experiences. Cognitive therapy teaches how to Identify, Evaluate and Modify thoughts in order to produce relief of problematic emotions and find practical solutions to everyday problems. It is especially beneficial for specific problems such as anxiety, depression and issues relating to self worth such as assertiveness, confidence and social self-assurance. This therapy involves the teaching of principles for practical living, modeling, skills training, restructuring and problem solving.

Most of us relate how we feel to the events, things and circumstances in our lives, so we spend a lot of time attempting to arrange and change circumstances so we will be happy. But the truth is that emotions and behaviors are not dependent on our environment, but our thoughts and belief systems, our self talk. Our choices of our thoughts about events- our self talk-create our emotions!

It is important to help clients with how they view life: how they see themselves, others, their current world, the future and also how they view God. We begin with a framework for understanding current problems, how they developed and how they are maintained. We deal with any distorted thoughts or beliefs associated with the problems and address reactions from emotional, physiological, behavioral and spiritual standpoints connected to problems. We look at internal or external events, conditions and stressors that contribute to problems or that interfere with solving them.

Flexibility and collaboration are foundational to Cognitive Therapy and so that you as the client can feel confident in working through problems in order to find healing, health and practical solutions. In each session we perform: a mood check-in and brief review of your week; work through a collaborative agenda together; discuss past session feedback and summaries; review homework & takeaways; work current problems; plan homework; discuss takeaways from the current session; and let you give feedback on the session.

I believe what we think about, what we dwell on, and where we FIX OUR MIND, will dictate our peace! Psychology is the study of the mind as it relates to thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and focuses on why people think, feel, and act the way they do.

“For as a man thinks within himself, so he is.” Proverbs 23:7

“Men are disturbed, not by things, but by the view they take of them.” Epictetus