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Use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Relieve Chronic Mental Health Symptoms

November 13, 2023


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Introduction

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the latest therapy approach that is rapidly gaining in use and popularity as more psychology experts and mental health clients get positive results. This brain-based form of therapy focuses on eliminating positive behaviors and thoughts and consciously replacing those behaviors with more productive and socially acceptable behaviors and thoughts.

Therapists who are licensed to practice CBT help mental health clients to better understand the function of their thinking, moods, emotions, and resulting behavior patterns.Cognitive-behavioral therapy is becoming a the go-to therapeutic psychological treatment for treating chronic mental health disorders that include anxiety disorders, depression and mood disorders, and substance use disorders. Today’s therapists are helping people to shine an introspective light on their negative behaviors in order to consciously make better decisions.

One of the main reasons for the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy is its effectiveness. According to the American Psychological Association, cognitive-behavioral therapy has shown to be at least as effective as other forms of psychotherapy treatments and as effective as some psychiatry medications. This means that people who get this brain-based form of therapy can experience improvements that are equivalent to taking psychiatric medication.

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Benefits of Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Mental Health

If you’re having trouble with your thinking, behavior, mood, emotions, cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you change negative patterns gradually. CBT works by teaching people with chronic mental health issues and behavior disorders how to recognize incorrect or damaging thoughts and behavior patterns.

Once you begin to understand the motivations, triggers, and drivers of emotional behavior in yourself and others, the result is increased self-confidence. Self-confidence is increased in CBT clients when they begin to overcome the feeling of powerlessness or helplessness that was likely driving their old negative behaviors, holistic practices include advice for how to incorporate strategies for mind and body healing using techniques like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises.

When you get cognitive-behavioral therapy, you learn how to make permanent and lasting changes in your thinking and behavior patterns with the professional guidance and expertise of a licensed clinical therapist. Therapists who are licensed to practice cognitive-behavioral therapy include the following.

Psychologists – (Ph.D/Psy.D)

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists – (LMFT)

Licensed Clinical Social Workers – (LCSW)

Licensed Mental Health Counselors – (LMHC)

Licensed Professional Counselors – (LPC or LPCC)

All of these licensed therapy professionals have a minimum of a masters degree in psychology, social work, social services, and other human service degrees. Along with meeting the education requirements all therapists are required to complete hands-on therapy practice hours. In most states the number of hours required for licensure is between 1,000 – 3,000.

Retrain Your Brain

Talking to a cognitive-behavioral therapist gives you unique insight into your own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. A licensed cognitive behavioral therapist can help you learn how to identify behavior triggers in order to choose new and more productive behaviors when similar circumstances arise. Cognitive-behavior therapy operates by rewarding positive behaviors and remaining neutral in the face of negative behaviors.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy research shows that CBT has shown positive results for treating a variety of mental health disorders. Psychologists and therapists have successfully used cognitive-behavioral therapy to treat anxiety disorders, marital issues, relationship issues, substance abuse disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and many others.

People who take part in regular cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions regularly report at least a seventy-percent improvement in their happiness levels and mental health conditions after participating in CBT based therapy sessions. This brain-based therapy is rapidly becoming one of the most sought after therapeutic solutions for people with mild-to-moderate mental health disorders. Therapists who practice cognitive-behavioral therapy can be found in doctor’s offices, hospitals, behavioral health clinics, and online.

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Get Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Online

If you’re interested in trying cognitive-behavioral therapy but you haven’t been able to due to time constraints or issues relating to COVID- 19, you can easily sign up for affordable and discreet therapy using online therapy platforms. Today’s online therapy platforms offer the same level of high-quality therapy as hospitals, clinics, and private practice. In many cases, the therapists practicing online are the same therapists you see in an offline environment.

Many of today’s therapists are taking their practices online in order to expand and offer a wider variety of therapy services to clients. Find a therapist who provides online therapy in your state by searching your state’s therapy licensing database. You can also verify the credentials of your therapist by visiting the state licensing website online. Each state maintains a database of licensed therapists that are actively practicing in your state. The state database will provide detailed information about your therapist including their license number, number of years in practice, and other important details that help you make the best decision when choosing your therapist.

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