Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

NOTE: This page is for reference, definition, and information only. Wilopa Practitioners are not licensed medical personnel and do not practice the form of psychotherapy described herein.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on challenging and changing unhelpful behaviors from cognitive distortions (such as thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes) and the development of personal coping strategies that target solving client’s problems. Originally, it was designed to treat depression, but its uses have been expanded to include treatment of a number of mental health conditions, including anxiety. CBT includes a number of cognitive and behavior psychotherapies using evidence-based techniques and strategies.

Therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to help people challenge their patterns and beliefs and replace errors in thinking, known as cognitive distortions, such as “overgeneralizing, magnifying negatives, minimizing positives, and catastrophizing” with more realistic and effective thoughts, thus decreasing emotional distress and self-defeating behavior.

CBT techniques may also help client’s take a more open, mindful, and aware posture toward cognitive distortions so as to diminish the impact on their psyche.

Our holistic version of cognitive behavioral therapy is neither a medical nor a clinical approach. It is a similar yet modified and enhanced holistic approach that far exceeds the capabilities and efficacy of the traditional medical counterpart.