Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Michael Ceely, LMFT

Counseling for Men | San Francisco Bay Area & California

The Power of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been described as the gold standard of treatment for numerous issues. The power of CBT lies in its ability change deeply engrained patterns of behavior and thinking.

CBT works by examining the automatic thoughts that drive our emotions and behaviors. For example, one person may feel depressed by a job loss, while another person may see it as blessing in disguise. Same event, two different responses.

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The Role of a CBT Therapist

A CBT therapist shows you the “belief filter” through which you interpret external events. For example, the belief about losing your job can be negative: “I'm not good enough.” or positive: “The job wasn't a good fit. I can find one that better suits my talents."

The CBT therapist understands how thoughts can spiral into worst-case scenarios such as, "If I don't find a job, I'll end up homeless on the street." CBT helps you nip negativity in the bud, and trains you to focus on more "probable-case scenarios."

CBT and the Brain

The brain is wired at a primal level to look for danger and what could go wrong. In ancient times, this helped humans survive as a species. Nowadays this programming can work against our own best interests, keeping us stuck in the mode of "playing it safe."

Fortunately, we humans have an executive mode. We can observe our own thoughts, and therefore change them. CBT teaches you the skills to create more positive thoughts, emotions and behaviors.

CBT and the Brain

Fortunately, we humans have an executive mode. We can observe our own thoughts, and therefore change them. CBT teaches you the skills to create more positive thoughts, emotions and behaviors.

CBT and Lasting Change

So the goal of CBT is to create a new, more positive baseline for your thoughts and feelings. Better thoughts and feelings generate better actions. Over time, better actions create better results... in all areas of your life.

It's not that you'll never feel negative ever again. But you'll spend way less time stuck in negativity, and you'll be able to bounce back to your new positive baseline. In short, the goal of CBT is permanent change for the better. Ready to get started?

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