Mental Health Counseling–Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

What It Is

CBT is a type of therapy that helps you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected to each other. It’s like learning to be a detective of your own mind. You discover patterns in your thinking that might be making you feel bad, and then learn how to change those thoughts to healthier ones.

How It Works

When you work with a CBT counselor at Mariposa, you’ll learn important skills:

First, you’ll learn to notice negative thoughts when they happen. These might be thoughts like “I always mess everything up” or “Nobody likes me.”

Then, you’ll learn to question these thoughts by looking for real evidence. Is it really true that you “always” mess up? Or are there times when things went well?

Next, you’ll practice replacing unhelpful thoughts with more balanced ones that are still true but less extreme.

Finally, you’ll try new behaviors that help break the cycle of negative thoughts and feelings. These might be small steps at first, like talking to one new person if you’re shy.

What to Expect

CBT is different from some other therapies because it focuses mostly on what’s happening in your life right now, not just on your past. Your counselor will work with you like a coach, giving you exercises to practice between sessions.

You won’t need to come to therapy forever. CBT usually has clear goals and a timeline—often between 8 to 20 sessions. Your counselor will help you learn skills you can use on your own after therapy ends.

What It Helps With

CBT has been proven to help with many different problems, including:

Depression (feeling very sad or hopeless) Anxiety (feeling very worried or afraid) Recovering from traumatic experiences Obsessive thoughts or behaviors that you can’t control Problems with substance use

At Mariposa Counseling, we believe everyone has the power to make positive changes in their thinking and their lives. Just like a butterfly transforms, you too can transform how you think and feel with the right support and tools.

Call us at (928) 641-8131 to learn more about how CBT might help you or someone you care about.

Call to make an appointment with one of our therapists:  (928) 641-8131

Read about the latest CBT research.

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