Anxiety Counselor Explains CBT Therapy
Anxiety Counselor Explains CBT Therapy
Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC
You've noticed that your anxiety gets in the way of daily life, making it hard to focus at work, enjoy yourself, or feel fulfilled in relationships. You overthink every decision, replay conversations in your head like a broken record, lie awake at night, and worry constantly about what the future might bring. And it's just… exhausting.
You've heard about cognitive behavioral therapy and wonder if CBT can help with anxiety. It's perfectly reasonable to want to know more before you begin counseling. People often have many questions about CBT when they call our practice, such as how CBT works, what cognitive behavioral therapy does, or why, for some people, CBT doesn't work. In this article, I will answer these questions and more to help you understand what to expect.
How CBT Works?
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a short-term and goal-oriented psychotherapy founded on the idea that our thoughts determine our feelings and behavior. It involves various techniques and interventions that encourage healthier thought patterns and behaviors to help reduce distressing emotional experiences. CBT combines cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. While a cognitive aspect of CBT focuses on thinking patterns and psychological distress, the behavioral component concentrates on behavior.
Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Help Anxiety
Most of my clients come to our first anxiety therapy session in Orlando with the same question: "Will CBT cure my anxiety?" It's such a natural question to ask. After all, when we decide to start therapy, we want to feel reassured that it will actually help us feel better. The good news is that CBT is a first-line, empirically supported treatment for anxiety disorders and has been proven to be highly effective.
Many of our thoughts that cross our mind are spontaneous and automatic. For someone with anxiety, these thoughts, known as automatic negative thoughts, or ANTs, are typically negative and self-critical.
"He didn't text me back. He must be mad at me."
"I just know something will go wrong. I feel it."
"If I miss another deadline, I'll get fired. No one will ever hire me again."
"Why is she so upset? It must be because of me. She never liked me."
"I never get things right. I'm such a failure."
Such negative self-talk then fuels worry, fear, and avoidance. CBT helps you, first, recognize these thoughts; then, understand how they affect your feelings and behavior; and finally, learn how to replace dysfunctional thinking patterns with more positive ones, which ultimately reduces anxiety and improves your daily life.
What CBT Therapy Treats?
Anyone who struggles with anxiety disorders and stress or wants to break free from negative thinking patterns can benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy. Also, you may find CBT helpful if you experience:
Anger issues
Relationship challenges
Substance use challenges
How CBT Works for Depression?
If you have depression, CBT can reduce your symptoms by helping you recognize negative thoughts and beliefs about yourself and the world. These thoughts often trigger depression, so once you identify them, you can change them and reduce depression.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia
If you struggle with insomnia, you might want to work with an anxiety therapist in Orlando who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). This is a structured, evidence-based treatment designed to help people with chronic sleep problems. CBT-I treats the underlying reasons for insomnia, such as thoughts and behaviors that interfere with sleep. It improves your sleep by changing your thoughts about sleep and improving your nighttime routine.
You might also find helpful: Anxiety Therapist Orlando: Shares Tips for Dealing With Insomnia
How to Practice CBT at Home
You may be wondering, "Can I practice CBT on my own?" or "Can I do CBT without a therapist?" While working with a professional is often the most effective, you can still practice some CBT skills at home. For example, you can use CBT to stop overthinking by journaling your worries, identifying thought patterns, and challenging negative thoughts with more realistic ones. Mindfulness, relaxation techniques, and positive affirmations are also simple ways to practice CBT daily and begin shifting the way you think and feel.
Anxiety Therapy Orlando: CBT vs. DBT
CBT and DBT are closely linked, as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a specialized form of CBT. Unlike traditional CBT, which focuses mainly on changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, DBT teaches practical skills that can be applied in everyday situations. It combines cognitive-behavioral strategies with mindfulness and acceptance-based skills to help clients regulate intense emotions, overcome self-destructive behavior, and have healthy relationships.
You might also find helpful: Orlando Therapist: Understanding Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Mindfulness
If you struggle with persistent negative thoughts and emotional distress, you might benefit from mindfulness-based cognitive therapy or guided meditations for anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy with mindfulness can help you manage distress so you don't feel overwhelmed with anxiety or depression. Mindfulness teaches you to identify and observe your current thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without self-judgment. So, when you notice your negative thoughts that lead to anxiety and depression, you can take control of them instead of feeling overwhelmed.
If you're searching for "CBT where to start" or "How to find CBT near me in Orlando," you're probably looking for the therapy option that best fits your needs. Or you want to understand why cognitive behavioral therapy doesn't always work.
Although there is no absolute contraindication for CBT, some critics believe that cognitive-behavioral therapy may not work well for people with complex mental health issues like severe personality disorders, as it may not address deeper problems or underlying causes. Other experts think that when CBT is not effective, it can be due to a mismatch between what the therapy focuses on and the person's specific issues, such as trauma or unconscious complex problems.
If CBT doesn't work, you can try alternative therapies, like EMDR or trauma-focused therapies. Our therapists at Mindful Living Counseling Orlando use trauma therapies such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), intensive EMDR, and sensorimotor psychotherapy to help our clients leave the past behind, heal, and find peace again.
Ready to Tackle Anxiety with Anxiety Therapy Orlando?
If you are ready to confront your fears so that you can fully show up to your life now, reach out to us. We are here to walk with you on your healing journey.
1. Fill out our New Client Consultation form here.
2. Once you complete the form, you'll be invited to schedule a 15-minute phone consultation with one of our anxiety therapists.
3. Get ready to start your healing journey!
Not Quite Ready for Anxiety Therapy?
At Mindful Living Counseling, we know how anxiety feels, and you don’t have to face it alone. We invite you to explore the blogs below for more guidance and support.
Additional Anxiety Therapy Resources
Orlando Therapist: Understanding Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Orlando Therapist: Understanding Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Orlando Anxiety Therapist Shares: How to Handle Life's Curveballs
Orlando Therapist: 5 Things Your Therapist Wants You to Know
Orlando Therapist: Understanding Therapy Jargon
An Anxiety Therapist Shares Everything You Need to Know About Anxiety
Other Therapy Services Offered at Mindful Living Counseling in Orlando
At Mindful Living Counseling, we offer a variety of therapy services, including EMDR therapy, Trauma Therapy, Eating Disorder Therapy, Teen Therapy, and Toxic Relationship Therapy. Additionally, we offer Guided Meditations for our clients.
Anxiety Therapist Lauran Hahn
Lauran Hahn is the owner of Mindful Living Counseling in Orlando and specializes in helping clients manage anxiety and trauma. She is certified as a Sensorimotor Psychotherapist and an EMDR Therapist, and is recognized as an EMDRIA Approved Consultant. Lauran’s goal is to help individuals achieve a sense of calm in their bodies, peace in their minds, and connection in their relationships.