Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in San Diego
Mental health disorders can sometimes cause harmful, even destructive behavioral and thought patterns. These patterns can inhibit normal day-to-day functioning, hinder interpersonal relationships, and increase mental and emotional suffering. These patterns can often be extremely difficult to break out of, even for those who recognize the negative effects these patterns have in their lives.
Replacing unhealthy thought patterns and behavioral patterns with healthier alternatives can help you manage your mental condition and find long-term healing. To promote this, Solara Mental Health Center in San Diego provides cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) — a form of therapy that provides veterans with defined practices to develop positive healthy thought patterns and find substantial relief from mental health problems.
What is CBT?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be an effective short-term treatment that provides a long-term benefit.
CBT is a therapeutic practice designed to help people with mental health disorders address their current struggles — learning to accept the things they cannot change and take control of the things they can.
CBT does not explore the causes of maladaptive thoughts and behaviors; instead, it provides a structured, goal-oriented therapy that helps veterans recognize and interrupt negative thought patterns and replace them with alternatives that are healthier and more constructive.
Core principles CBT is based on include:
- Faulty and unhelpful ways of thinking can provoke psychological problems
- Unhelpful behaviors can provoke psychological problems
- And, people can learn better ways to cope with their psychological problems, hence relieving symptoms related to those problems.
Specific benefits of CBT include the following:
- Exchanging maladaptive thought patterns for more productive, realistic, and positive alternatives
- Learning healthy, appropriate coping mechanisms for processing and reacting to stressful situations
- Strengthening self-control over behaviors and emotions
- Developing a stronger sense of self-healing
Conditions Best Treated By CBT
A wide range of conditions may benefit from CBT, allowing people to focus on and handle specific problems that they face.
CBT is commonly used to treat conditions such as:
- Addiction
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Phobias
- OCD
Skills Commonly Learned Through CBT
The great thing about CBT is that it promotes healthy skills and behaviors that can be useful for a lifetime. CBT helps people process their thoughts and feelings healthily to avoid problematic emotions and behaviors.
With CBT, a person may benefit from strategies such as:
Learning to identify Negative thoughts — so that they may process difficult feelings and situations in a way that doesn’t contribute to troubling behaviors. This process requires deep introspection and self-discovery.
Practicing New Skills — that can be used to cope with real-world situations.
Setting Goals — that are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based) so a person may focus on making the changes they need to improve their condition.
Solving Problems — both big and small to avoid stress that agitates mental illness.
Monitoring Oneself — by writing things down to track progression or degression. This can be helpful for the individual, but can also be useful for the treating therapist.
Progressing Gradually — because true change doesn’t happen overnight. Achieving small wins overtime is almost always better than taking giant leaps.
Start CBT at Solara Mental Health
The expert, compassionate therapists, and clinicians at Solara’s Mental Health Center in San Diego can guide you through cognitive behavioral therapy.
Learn to manage your thoughts, transform your perceptions, and gain control over your behaviors with CBT. Engage in introspective mental exercises such as journaling, role-playing, and visualization so that you can identify ways to grow.
Whether you’ve landed here looking to help yourself or a loved one, Solara Mental Health can help. Call 844-600-9747 or fill out our contact form to get started today.
Solara’s Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Veterans
People with mental health disorders can benefit from cognitive behavior therapy by learning to accept the things they cannot change and take control of the things they can. We understand this is a complex and broad term that requires the guidance and assistance of our qualified staff at our facility.
Solara Mental Health is VA contracted as a community care provider, which gives us the unique opportunity to help veterans with their needs. Once authorized, housing, transportation, and accommodations will be provided.
