Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Willow Grove, PA—CBT Therapists and Counselors

Have you ever been walking down the street and saw someone you know, who did not say hello to you? Is your first thought something negative about yourself, such as, “They must hate me!”

This is what we refer to as an automatic thought and it can lead to feeling anxious, worried, or sad. Our negative automatic thoughts are often inaccurate, because the reality of the previous example might be that the person who did not say hello, may not have seen you, or maybe they had something else on their mind or maybe they thought you ignored them! Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on negative thought patterns and cognitive distortions that lead to feelings of depression and anxiety. Changing these thought patterns and discerning how they occurred can help lead us to feeling better. Our counselors at Thriveworks Willow Grove utilize a cognitive behavioral approach to help you change your thought patterns and get you to a happier and healthier place in your life.

What Are Cognitive Distortions?

Cognitive distortions are thinking patterns that are largely unhelpful and destructive in our mental health and in life in general. When left unchecked, cognitive distortions can build upon one another until you believe that you’re worthless and that disasters are waiting to happen.

Cognitive Distortions hinder your ability to create the life you want, and the ability to respond to events the way you want. They will trick you into doubting yourself and potentially cause you to misinterpret the actions of others in your life.

When you’re stuck in the cycle of Cognitive Distortions, it can feel impossible to break free. It becomes easier to “spiral” and lose hope and your sense of control.

At Thriveworks Willow Grove our Counselors know that it is possible to regain control of your thought patterns! With our training and experience with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy we can help you change the way you think so that it can help change the way you feel. If you are interested in starting your journey with a Thriveworks Clinician Book Now!

Examples of Cognitive Distortions:

So, what are Cognitive Distortions? There are more than we can list, but some of the most common ones include:

• Should Statements: “I should do this…” Should-ing yourself means believing that nothing you do is ever enough, because at your core- you’re not enough.
• Catastrophizing:  When someone blows things way out of proportion.
• All-or-nothing thinking– This is a black and white thinking that is very common. “I didn’t go to the gym tonight so my whole health routine is trashed, and I have to start from square one.”
• Emotional Reasoning– “I feel dumb, so I am dumb”. While your feelings will always be valid, the thoughts that tag along with them may not be.
•  Mind Reading– Thinking you know what someone is thinking or feeling. Like when you walk in late and assume your boss is extremely disappointed in you. Another example is when a friend doesn’t respond to your text, so you think they’re mad at you.
• Filtering – when an individual takes all of the negative details and magnifies those aspects of a situation.  When filtering is applied, a person only sees the negative and ignores all the positive.
• Overgeneralization – when a person comes to a general conclusion based on a single incident or a single piece of evidence.  If something bad happens just once, they expect it to happen over and over again.

There are many more distortions that could be plaguing your thoughts and all of them can be changed for the better. At Thriveworks Willow Grove there is Hope! We can help you attack each cognitive distortion and help you regain your peace of mind.  With a little help from our counselors you can take back control of your thoughts, so schedule an appointment today by calling (267) 685-3197.

How Does CBT Work?

CBT has three basic steps, but it will vary based on your unique experience and situation.

In the initial phase, a Thriveworks Willow Grove counselor will help you recognize a cognitive distortion. During the middle phase we will break down your thought patterns. Finally in the ending phase, we’ll replace it with a positive, true thought. CBT is about self-awareness and the power you have as an individual to change your thoughts from negative to positive.

CBT can be used to combat the following diagnoses:

• Anxiety
• PTSD
• OCD
• Insomnia
• Impulsive behaviors
• Addictions
• Self-harm
• Relationship issues

Thriveworks Willow Grove offers both daytime and evening hours. There is no waiting list and we accept most major insurance plans and offer affordable rates.  We also offer Online/ Telehealth Counseling. Our office is located in Montgomery County Pennsylvania, so if you are looking for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Willow Grove, Abington, Jenkintown, Hatboro or Huntingdon Valley, our office will be convenient for you! Call for an appointment today at (267) 685-3197.