Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Westfield, NJ

Targeted Talk Therapy for Improved Mental Wellness

Therapist listening carefully during CBT session

Here at Embrace Psychiatric Wellness Center in Westfield, we use a variety of methods to help patients improve their mental wellness. For many patients, a targeted type of talk therapy known as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is immensely beneficial. What is CBT, and how might it be able to help you? Continue reading this page to discover some important information. You are also invited to contact us to learn more.

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Therapist taking notes during talk therapy session

CBT is a scientifically backed approach to talk therapy that is based on a number of core principles, including:

Psychological problems are partially based on unhealthy thought patterns.
Learned patterns of unhelpful behavior also contribute to psychological problems.
Individuals with psychological problems can learn to change their thought patterns and behaviors in beneficial ways.

How Does CBT Work?

Smiling patient explaining something during psychotherapy session

Because every patient and every therapist is unique, CBT is not exactly the same for everyone. However, it usually involves a few aspects of treatment:

You will attend a limited number of sessions (5 – 20 on average) with a mental health professional, during which you will discuss your challenges. Your therapist will help you to identify the cause of your problems and formulate strategies that may lead to improvements.
Your therapist may give you “homework” that will help you to identify and change unhelpful emotions and thought patterns. In other words, you may, in a sense, “become your own therapist.” This can be challenging at times, but if you are committed to complying with your treatment, it is likely that you will notice positive changes!

CBT is sometimes combined with other treatment methods, such as pharmaceutical intervention, to achieve optimum results.

Who Is a Candidate for CBT?

Stressed man sitting on the edge of his bed

CBT can be helpful for almost anyone. In many cases, it has proven beneficial for individuals with diagnosed mental health disorders, including:

Depression
Anxiety
Phobias
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Substance use disorders
Eating disorders
Sleeping disorders
Bipolar disorders
And more!

It is also worth noting that CBT is not exclusively for individuals who have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. It may also be right for you if you are dealing with a lot of stress, grieving the loss of a loved one, experiencing marital difficulties, or facing other life challenges.

What Are the Benefits of CBT?

Happy woman standing outside with blue sky in background

Some noteworthy benefits of CBT include:

Extensive research supports its use as a way to help people struggling with a variety of conditions.
It provides helpful coping skills, which can translate into many situations in life and provide long-term mental health benefits.
It may improve your self-esteem as you successfully implement various methods to deal with life’s ups and downs.
It can be part of a comprehensive treatment plan that may help patients who are struggling with even very severe mental health challenges.
It is a very low-risk treatment. (However, it may cause discomfort as you learn to identify and confront various obstacles.)