Individual Therapy

Research shows that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most effective type of therapy for anxiety disorders, and CBT strategies will form the basis of our work together. You, however, are not just your disorder. Incorporating the latest science and practice from positive psychology, which focuses on building strengths and making more of the “good stuff,” will help ensure that you are treated as a whole person. Together, we will work to get your symptoms under control and focus on building the life you want to live!

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an empirically-supported treatment — meaning science shows that it works — for many conditions including anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders. It is a short-term, action-oriented, collaborative treatment approach focused on reducing current symptoms and making meaningful and lasting changes in your day-to-day life.

CBT is based on the idea that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are inter-connected, and problematic patterns among them drive anxiety, depression, and other symptoms. CBT focuses on developing new ways of thinking and behaving that will break those problem patterns. CBT is a broad umbrella that encompasses a number of specific treatment techniques and interventions including: Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP), cognitive therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Habit Reversal Training (HRT), and behavioral activation, among others. CBT is an empirically-supported treatment for many conditions including:

Anxiety Disorders

• Panic Disorder

• Agoraphobia

• Social Anxiety Disorder

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Separation Anxiety Disorder

• Specific Phobias

• Selective Mutism

The Therapy Process

The therapy process begins with an initial 50-60 minute evaluation appointment. In this appointment, we will discuss your symptoms and your goals for treatment. We will begin to identify problematic patterns among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so that we can develop an individualized treatment plan, based on proven techniques and interventions. This plan is designed to achieve mutually agreed upon goals.

The course of therapy usually starts with work to increase self-awareness and education to help you gain a better understanding of your symptoms or disorder(s) and problem patterns of thinking and behavior. You will learn skills to manage symptoms and begin to make helpful changes in your life. Expect to do some work outside of sessions! Based on what we cover in session, we will set some goals for you to focus on until we meet again. It’s important to keep in mind that about 80-90% of your progress will come from what you do outside of session.

Most people need weekly or every other week sessions for a period of time (most CBT treatments average 12-20 sessions, though that number may vary depending on factors like symptom severity, life stressors, effort, and follow through). Standard sessions are 45-55 minutes. Occasionally, some people may need extended sessions depending on treatment goals and techniques being used; extended sessions range from 80-100 minutes. As progress is made, the frequency and/or length of sessions decreases (e.g., every other week or monthly, 20-30 minutes). Once active treatment wraps up, some people benefit from periodic booster sessions or “check ups.”