Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is evidence-based, science-backed, practical, and solution-oriented therapeutic approach. It has been a gold standard in training mental health professionals and is considered one of the most successful therapy modalities. I provide psychotherapy firmly based in CBT in Montreal for adolescents and adults dealing with anxiety, depression, ADHD and a variety of other life’s difficulties.
What is CBT?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on how a person’s thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes affect their feelings and behaviours. CBT is based on the theory that problems arise from the meanings people give to events, as well as the events themselves. Through identifying and challenging maladaptive thought patterns and behaviours, and the learning of new skills, more adaptive ways of thinking and behaving can be developed. CBT can have a positive impact on how people feel and act and equip them with coping strategies that help them deal with challenges.
Over the last few decades, CBT proliferated into a number of approaches that have been developed to treat various mental health problems, among which are: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). These therapeutic approaches all share the following characteristics, they are:
Short-term (usually 6-20 sessions)
Involve discussing difficulties in the “here and now”
Practical, solution-oriented, teach strategies and skills
Evidence based, scientific research has shown them to be effective
Involves understanding the interrelationships between situations, thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, behaviours, and outcomes
Involves practicing new skills both inside and outside of the therapy room
CBT can help people with many problems where thoughts and beliefs are critical. This therapeutic approach has been shown to be effective in treating anxiety, depression, panic disorder, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, personality disorders, eating disorders and other metal health problems. There is also growing evidence that it can help to relieve chronic pain.
CBT interventions targeting problematic thought patterns help people to:
Become more aware of their own mood
Understand how past experience can affect present feelings and beliefs
Stop taking the blame for everything
Focus on how things are rather than how they think they should be
Face their fears rather than avoid them
Identify problems more clearly
Develop an awareness of automatic negative thoughts
Challenge underlying assumptions that may be wrong
Distinguish between facts and irrational thoughts
Develop a more positive way of thinking and seeing situations
Establish attainable goals
CBT behavioural interventions may include:
Engaging in rewarding, goal-directed activities
Social skills training
Communication skills training
Anger management skills
Relaxation skills
Gradual exposure for feared objects or situations
I have been practicing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Montreal for over 10 years. My therapeutic orientation is practical and solution-oriented. I have had training in several CBT-based therapeutic approaches, an extensive supervision working with them, and I still continue to hone my skills at conferences and workshops. CBT psychotherapy is very helpful in reducing the severity of symptoms quickly. It is effective at reducing immediate suffering in anxiety and depression. In CBT psychotherapy my clients learn concrete tools and strategies that they can use for the rest of their lives.
What makes me a unique therapist is that I have training and experience in various other therapeutic modalities- systemic, emotion-focused, schema-focused, attachment-based, mentalization-based. I combine these therapeutic approaches with CBT psychotherapy to quickly contain symptoms, while uncovering the deeper roots of the problem. Additionally, I have extensive training in brain neurochemistry and the effects of psychiatric medications, which allows me to provide science-based biological explanations and discuss questions about medications.
Therapy fee is fixed at $180 per session (tax inclusive).
If you are feeling anxious, depressed, overwhelmed or stuck in your patterns, and need help with making changes in your life, contact me.
I offer a free 20 min phone consultation to answer any questions you may have about the process of therapy and the way I work.
