Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy, also known as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), encapsulates the essence of the quote by the Greek philosopher Epictetus:"People are disturbed not by events themselves, but by their evaluations/views of those events.". So, the first thing CBT aims to do is to teach us how to be more aware of the content of our negative thoughts and beliefs and how they can influence our emotion and ultimately our behavior, which in turn influences our thinking, trapping us in a vicious thought-emotion-behavior cycle. From this principle it automatically follows that if we can identify the conditions under which our symptoms occur and proceed to challenge and modify our pessimistic thoughts and negative evaluations, we will be able to change both our emotion and our behavior, escaping the vicious cycle that keeps us bound and stagnant in discomfort and pain. The fundamental goal of CBT is to heighten our awareness of negative thoughts and beliefs, recognizing their influence on our emotions and subsequent behaviors. This heightened awareness is crucial because negative thoughts often perpetuate a cycle where emotions and behaviors reinforce each other. By identifying the triggers for our symptoms and challenging our pessimistic thoughts and negative evaluations, we can disrupt this cycle. This process empowers us to adjust our emotions and behaviors, enabling us to break free from the cycle of discomfort and pain.

Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy is a brief, collaborative, and "here and now" focused form of psychotherapy. By fostering a strong therapeutic alliance, setting joint goals, conducting structured therapy sessions, providing psychoeducation, and employing therapeutic techniques and tools, CBT has consistently shown its effectiveness in addressing a range of mental and non-mental issues. These include depression, anger, anxiety, interpersonal relationships, phobias, eating disorders, addiction, and more.

Numerous studies have consistently demonstrated that Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy is the primary treatment for mental challenges. Its effectiveness stems from clients being trained in self-help techniques. The ultimate aim of this psychotherapeutic approach is to generalize all learned skills beyond the therapy room, ensuring the sustained improvement and self-actualization achieved during sessions. Essentially, upon completing therapy, individuals become their own therapists, equipped with the skills necessary for continued growth and well-being.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy offers practical assistance in three fundamental ways: by addressing our negative thoughts, our dysfunctional emotions and our maladaptive behaviors. "If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do us no harm", says the quote, emphasizing the importance of addressing internal challenges to overcome external obstacles. Through interventions targeting thought patterns and core beliefs, regulating the intensity, duration, and frequency of emotions, and adopting more effective behaviors, individuals lay the groundwork for a mentally healthy and flourishing lifestyle. This enables them to navigate life according to their true desires, liberated from the constraints of mental obstacles and equipped to successfully address any challenges that may arise.

As you have surely concluded, such a process cannot be that easy and simple in practice. "I just change the way I think, and everything is solved?" What if I told you that the answer tends towards "yes!" It just requires a little effort and cooperation from both of us.

As you embark on your psychotherapeutic journey towards a mentally healthy and autonomous life, the first thing you have to keep in mind is that you are not, and should not, be alone . The benefits you can gain from an honest and open relationship with a therapist are immeasurable. A therapist is a mental health professional, with many years of study, experience, and dedication, specifically trained to assist you in navigating your mental challenges, just as an orthopedist aids with tendon issues or a cardiologist addresses heart problems. The therapist is there because they genuinely want to listen to you with undivided attention and sincere concern. They aim to deeply understand where you are hurting and provide support in finding ways to alleviate that pain, enhancing your functionality and quality of life. Above all, the therapist aims to see you evolve into a mentally resilient individual, self-reliant, with your own unique qualities, virtues, and imperfections, capable of maintaining this elevated level of functioning and well-being long after the therapy sessions have concluded.

The therapeutic relationship serves as the foundation. However, it alone is insufficient, particularly if we aim for lasting changes in your mental landscape. Therefore, there will also be a focus on self-education regarding the distinctions among psychic, cognitive, psychological, and emotional phenomena through a process known as psychoeducation . This enables you to gain a deeper and more meaningful understanding of what truly transpires, both within yourself and in the inner world of individuals in general, including the realm of mental disorders. After all, truth has the power to set us free.

What’s more, throughout our sessions and beyond, you'll engage in exercises and utilize scientifically proven therapeutic tools and protocols. Each has a distinct purpose, yet they all share a common goal: to assist you in challenging and altering your dysfunctional beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors. These are the very factors that keep you ensnared in the cycle of negative emotions and dysfunctional, often self-destructive, perceptions and actions. The aim is to progress towards a new state characterized by rational and functional thinking, appropriate emotional responses, and effective behaviors that genuinely serve your best interests.

In essence, a competent and trusting therapeutic relationship, combined with dialogue, the sharing of personal experiences, psychoeducation , and the implementation of therapeutic techniques and exercises , can guide you on a profound journey of self-discovery, effort, and improvement. This journey leads toward self-awareness, psychological maturity, and self-actualization.

If any of the aforementioned resonated with you or piqued your interest, and you desire to alleviate your mental distress while enhancing your quality of life and functioning, please feel free to reach out today.