Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a solution-focused approach examining how our thoughts (cognitions) influence our actions. By evaluating our thoughts for accuracy and effectiveness, we can create more accurate and helpful thoughts, and thus more empowered emotions and actions. For example, with depression, we often get stuck in the past, deeply discouraged by what has happened, with a bleak outlook on the possibility of the future being any better. We often judge ourselves. We may have thoughts of hopelessness and worthlessness. With anxiety, we often ruminate and catastrophize, which can be paralyzing, creating damaging patterns of avoidance.

With CBT, we evaluate where such thoughts come from and reframe them to motivate more effectiveness, initiative, and direction. CBT also employs behavioral strategies for change, including behavioral principles of reinforcement and consequences, as well as exposure, which involves approaches that we fear, for the sake of learning. Considered the gold standard of psychotherapy, a vast body of research now supports CBT (e.g., https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5797481/); Dr. Angela received extensive training in CBT through her rigorous doctoral studies emphasizing research and behaviorism. She also remains active in the Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies and closely supervises each Centered Ground therapist in these approaches.