Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at Northern Virginia Psychiatric Group

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at Northern Virginia Psychiatric Group

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for many mental health disorders. CBT may be beneficial to those suffering from depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD or substance use issues.

At Northern Virginia Psychiatric Group, patients can access a wide variety of psychotherapy techniques to address their mental health concerns and enhance quality of life. Our staff includes licensed mental health professionals with specialized training and experience in various therapy methods.

CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) is a type of cognitive therapy that uses strategies to alter negative thoughts and behaviors. It teaches you to think differently about situations and people that cause you anxiety, stress, or feelings of hopelessness.

In a CBT session, you and your therapist will identify the thoughts that cause anxiety, stress, or worry. Your therapist then works to change these negative thoughts into more realistic and productive ones. You may be given homework assignments that practice new ways of responding when faced with challenging circumstances.

The therapist can teach you coping skills that you can utilize on your own. These may include practicing relaxation exercises, avoiding triggers, or facing a challenging situation instead of ignoring it.

Another aspect of CBT is exposure therapy, which involves gradually exposing you to things or situations that cause anxiety. This could include riding in a car or airplane, shopping malls, and other places you have avoided or feared.

In addition to teaching you coping skills, therapists may also utilize cognitive restructuring techniques to identify and dispel distorted automatic thoughts and avoidance behaviors that are negatively affecting your life. Exposure therapy also assists in building habituation–the process of gradually decreasing or eliminating unwanted responses after repeated exposure–to feared objects, places or people.

Trauma-focused CBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) is a type of therapy suitable for children, adolescents and adults who have suffered sexual or physical abuse, violence or other trauma. This approach to therapy is particularly sensitive to the emotional and mental health needs of these clients and integrates elements of family therapy with trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT).

When selecting a therapist for trauma-focused CBT and other forms of psychotherapy, it is essential that they possess specialized training. Candidates should have expertise in child development, psychiatric nursing, psychological counseling as well as extensive trauma-focused therapy experience.

Youths experiencing posttraumatic symptoms and mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, or suicidal ideation may benefit from TF-CBT therapy. This form of therapy typically requires eight sessions and can be done in an outpatient clinic, mental health clinic, or residential treatment facility.

Therapy that utilizes family and other social support networks to assist patients in reaching their objectives can be especially beneficial. It may be especially useful for those who have difficulty forming and maintaining relationships, are socially isolated, or have a history of substance abuse issues.