CBT is the foundation of our clinical practice at City Center.

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City Center is a team of highly skilled clinicians who prioritizes collaborative treatment planning and active problem-solving in a warm, supportive environment.

What is CBT?

CBT is a type of psychotherapy that has been extensively researched and consistently shown to be effective at treating a variety of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, and more. CBT focuses on recognizing how unhelpful thought patterns impact feelings and behavior.

When individuals interact with the world around them, they bring with them perceptions based on their own thoughts and feelings. However, our perceptions can often be distorted; the way we perceive the world is not always how the world really is. Oftentimes our perceptions are colored by negative thoughts. This can lead us to perceive the world as being more negative than it actually is, leading to distress and issues such as anxiety and depression.

How does CBT work?

CBT works by helping individuals recognize when their perceptions are out of sync with reality. By becoming aware of one’s thought patterns, an individual is able to filter out the “noise” that their own thoughts and feelings may be creating, and thus see the world more clearly as it actually is. Through a combination of analyzing, practicing with interactive exercises, and between-session “homework,” clients can begin adapting helpful thought patterns that help them take action towards their goals.

You can read more on CBT from the Beck Institute here.

Our CBT approach

All of our therapists are trained to provide thoughtful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in an environment that both supports and empowers our clients. We begin with a diagnostic evaluation in order to learn about a client’s history and past experiences. From there, we help our clients explore their perceptions and thought processes while providing psycho-educational resources (we believe that knowledge and understanding about oneself are essential in creating meaningful change), as well as the tools and skills necessary to manage and overcome the stress of anxiety and depression. The aforementioned “homework,” exercises done between sessions, allow clients to bring from their sessions the new tools they are learning into their everyday lives. Like any other skill, regular practice of CBT techniques makes us better at them and thus better at handling our difficult feelings.

We have clinicians available to work with adults, adolescents and teens, and children and provide individual and relationship therapy.

Through this process of learning, analyzing, and practicing, CBT allows you to see the world in a better way.