Intensive CBT: When you realize it's time to Rethink

Intensive Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive behavior therapy, or CBT, is a highly effective psychological therapy based on research and clinical practice. For many individuals suffering from mental health challenges and conditions, CBT can be a means of achieving sustainable, meaningful progress.

CBT is a therapy used for a large variety of mental health disorders. Its popularity is earned over decades of research and practice that demonstrate clinical effectiveness, in other words… it works.

As a trusted provider of cognitive behavior therapy, MHS has created this practical guide to help you better understand why working with a CBT therapist could be the life-changing solution you’ve been searching for.

Think for yourself

Rethink is created for people whose thoughts and beliefs affect how they feel, how they relate to others, and how they function in the world. Rethink, based on CBT, recognizes that our thinking, or cognitions play a central role in emotional distress and behavior problems.

The rhymes & reasons

In order to reduce distress and solve problems, Rethink therapists actively examine the validity of automatic thoughts and core belief systems that contribute to mental illness. Then they look to replace ineffective thinking with more balanced and healthy thoughts. Here’s to Rethinking.
Surrounded with care

Rethink is a CBT Intensive Outpatient program that meets twice weekly. We work closely with other providers, including existing individual therapists, to ensure our clients receive the highest level of comprehensive care. Length of treatment is based on medical necessity and goal attainment, aka; You.

What is CBT?

CBT stands for cognitive behavior therapy, a treatment method that aims to support an individual in creating healthier, more productive thoughts and behavioral patterns. Essentially, CBT helps an individual pinpoint negative thoughts and behaviors, then replace them with improved alternatives.

The core principles of CBT

The causes of any problem are complex, but locating the factors that currently maintain an issue is key.
There is a defined connection between feelings and behaviors, so improving one can alleviate difficulties with another.
Psychological challenges are often based (at least in part) on faulty, unhelpful, and learned patterns of thinking and behavior.
By learning better coping methods, individuals dealing with psychological difficulties can reduce their symptoms and achieve a higher quality of life.
Treatment focuses on resolving current problems rather than focusing solely on the past (although past experiences are not ignored).

Depending on an individual’s specific needs and goals, a CBT therapist will carefully tailor the treatment experience accordingly. However, most CBT treatments involve strategies that include:

Learning how to actively recognize one’s distorted/negative thought patterns to reshape them through the lens of reality
Building confidence in one’s abilities
Gaining a clearer understanding of others’ behaviors and motivations
Confronting fears rather than avoiding them
Practicing how to calm one’s mind and body
Utilizing role-playing exercises to prepare for various scenarios
Developing effective coping skills
Implementing newly-learned skills outside the therapy environment

What CBT Can Help With

CBT treatment approaches can support individuals with a diverse range of challenges, including:

Depression
Anxiety disorders
Bipolar disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Eating disorders
Difficulties with emotional regulation, anger, etc.
Personality disorders
Substance abuse/addiction
Psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia
Relationship issues
Phobias
Insomnia
Chronic pain/fatigue
Chronic stress

Because the focus of CBT is on learning new behaviors and patterns of thought, it can also be highly applicable to individuals that would like to improve their everyday habits and overall well-being.

Benefits of CBT

CBT benefits will vary based on an individual’s unique needs, challenges, and long-term goals. Ultimately, the primary benefit of CBT is the ability to more effectively manage mental distress and regain control of one’s mental health.

In general, the growth that comes through CBT can include:

Recognizing distorted thinking more quickly
Developing effective problem-solving skills
Remaining calm in the face of difficult circumstances
Gaining distance from negative thinking
Understanding that thoughts do not have to dictate behaviors
Improving communication skills
Better managing strong emotional reactions
Shifting reactions to emotional triggers
Practicing more rational thought processes
Strengthening self-esteem and confidence
Managing the symptoms of mental health conditions

Effectiveness of CBT

According to the American Psychological Association, cognitive behavior therapy has been shown to be as effective as (or more effective than) various other forms of treatment and psychiatric medications.

The effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy is confirmed by decades of research and clinical practice, and our understanding of how it can work exceptionally well for many psychological challenges only continues to deepen.

Get Started with CBT – Contact Mental Health Systems

With CBT, you can achieve a broad range of goals that contribute to a happier, healthier way of life. It is a research-based approach that recognizes the complexity of mental health challenges, and its versatility makes it an outstanding option for various individuals.

MHS provides cognitive behavior therapy in Minnesota, connecting adult and adolescent patients with our extensively trained CBT therapists in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Plymouth, Woodbury, Edina, and Apple Valley.

Our Rethink program incorporates key principles of CBT, taking a collaborative approach to supporting our clients in the pursuit of improved well-being. Additionally, we facilitate CBT in a group setting online through our Virtu-Clinic, making the benefits of CBT accessible from the comfort of your home. For more information about how CBT can help you, contact us at 952-835-2002 or connect with us online today.

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