Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most researched forms of therapy. It helps you notice the links between your thoughts, feelings and actions, and practice new ways to respond.
How CBT works
In CBT, you and your therapist look closely at the moments that knock you off balance. What happened, what went through your mind, how you felt, and what you did next. Over time you learn to catch unhelpful thinking traps, check them against the evidence (sometimes a worry turns out to be realistic, and then the focus shifts to problem-solving), and find a fairer way to see the situation. CBT is also behavioral: depending on what you're working on, it can include behavioral activation to rebuild energy and routine, behavioral experiments to test predictions, and gradual exposure to situations you've been avoiding.
CBT is collaborative and practical. Many clients use worksheets between sessions, like our Thinking Traps worksheet and thought record, to build skills that last after therapy ends.
What CBT can help with
- Anxiety, panic and worry
- Depression and low self-esteem
- Perfectionism, burnout and stress
- Coping with chronic illness, migraine, vertigo and POTS
- Body image and eating concerns
- Trauma, through trauma-focused forms such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
CBT with a personal touch
Psychologists in the collective integrate CBT with other evidence-based approaches, including ACT, DBT, mindfulness, self-compassion and EMDR, so treatment fits you rather than a script.
Clinicians who offer CBT therapy
Where we offer CBT therapy
In person
- CBT therapy in Berkeley
- CBT therapy in Kensington
- CBT therapy in the East Bay
- CBT therapy in Marin
- CBT therapy in Sonoma
Online
- Online CBT therapy in California
- Online CBT therapy in New York
- Online CBT therapy in Florida
- Online CBT therapy in Virginia
- Online CBT therapy in Hawaii
San Francisco residents can meet online or in person in the East Bay or Marin; in-person sessions in San Francisco are coming soon.
Related reading
Questions about CBT therapy
How is CBT different from talk therapy?
CBT is structured and goal-focused. You still talk about what matters to you, but sessions also build specific skills you can practice between appointments.
Is CBT available online?
Yes. All psychologists in the collective offer online CBT in California. Dr. Kassouf also offers online CBT in Florida, Hawaii and Virginia, and Dr. Henry in New York.
Is CBT only for anxiety?
No. CBT is used for depression, stress, chronic health conditions, trauma and more.
Schedule your free consultation
Book in real time with any available clinician in the collective.