Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Get Cognitive Behavioral Therapy From a Licensed CBT Therapist in Philadelphia Today
Do you often say to yourself…
“I’m a failure!”
“I never get things right.”
“There’s nothing I can do…”
“He/She must think…”
“I shouldn’t (fill in the blank), but…”
“I could tell she/he thought…”
These are examples of thoughts people have. These thoughts are powerful in nature and influence mood which then influences behavior.
For example, if you say to yourself “I never get things right” over and over again throughout the course of a day, do you feel more capable or less capable of your ability to get things right? Less! If you continue to say to yourself “I never get things right” does your self-esteem increase or decrease? Decrease! (Unless you’re already feeling so incapable you believe you can’t do anything right.)
Feeling bad about yourself isn’t a motivator; it’s something that keeps you anchored in negativity.
This example demonstrates how powerful thoughts are and how negative-driven thoughts influence mood and behavior. The thoughts we have day to day are important. Thoughts about who we are and what we contribute to our relationships influence mood, behavior and interactions within our immediate environment.
While everyone has a degree of fleeting negative thoughts, increased frequency and intensity of negative thoughts is detrimental to mental and physical health if left unchecked and extreme. If you think you have more negative thoughts than positive thoughts about yourself and your abilities, it might be time to talk with a therapist. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an effective approach that teaches people how to identify unhelpful thoughts and change them.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a treatment modality grounded in the idea that a person’s mood is influenced by his or her thoughts and these thoughts influence self-perception, as well the perception of others and the world. These thoughts are not always known and, in session, are frequently referred to as automatic negative thoughts because they are usually negative or dysfunctional in nature.
When we have negative thoughts about our self or our self-worth, these thoughts shape our self-perception and alter our behavior. Persistent negative or dysfunctional thoughts can also impact physical wellness.
The goal of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, therefore, is to teach you to recognize negative or dysfunctional thoughts, to assess the validity of these thoughts and to replace the negative thoughts with something more rational. In doing so, we change the thought process by correcting for negative thoughts and ultimately decreasing emotional and psychological distress while improving mood.
Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy right for me?
If you frequently tell yourself statements like:
“I’m a failure!”
“I never get things right.”
“There’s nothing I can do…”
“He/She must think…”
“I shouldn’t (fill in the blank), but…”
“I could tell she/he thought…”
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy could be right for you. We all have these thoughts. Learn how to control yours by finding a healthier, more balanced way to think.
