A search on Google for “cognitive behavioral therapy near me,” will present a list of hospitals that are offering cognitive behavioral therapy in your locality.
However, before you proceed to have a session, you need to be fully aware of whom it is meant for.
You also need to ascertain if you are showing any symptoms that will require therapy.
We could go and on, but it is important to be informed before heading to find a cognitive behavioral therapy practitioner or seeing a psychologist near you.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a therapy session where you talk with a mental health counselor called a psychotherapist or therapist.
This therapy makes you aware of your negative thoughts or outlook on certain situations.
The awareness helps you to deal with even the most challenging situations by viewing it in a positive way and in the best light.
As such, more challenges can be dealt with using the same mental pattern formed.
On the other hand, CBT can be coupled with other therapies in a bid to combat depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health disorders.
That being the case, it can be recommended to anyone whose state of mind is low, and it could enable them to manage life situations more effectively.
Mental Disorders That Can Be Treated With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
The following are some mental disorders that can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy; they include:
- Phobias
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Sexual disorders
- Eating disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
What Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Help You Solve
If you’re passing through the emotional challenges outlined below, here are some relief CBT can offer:
- Helps to manage emotions
- Allows a person to cope with a medical illness
- Helps to cope with grief or loss
- Helps to manage chronic physical symptoms
- Helps to manage symptoms of mental illness
- Helps in communication in relationships to resolve conflicts
- Helps to treat mental illness where medication is not a better alternative
How to Prepare for a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
To prepare for cognitive behavioral therapy, consider the following:
1. Get Recommendations:
The first step is to find a therapist. One way that can be made possible is to refer to a doctor.
A doctor is in a good position to recommend good therapists to you.
Similarly, you can search on the internet to find a therapist in your area.
It’s worth noting that some employers of labor offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) which you can also take advantage of.
2. Check the therapist’s qualifications:
Ensure that the therapist you settle for has been certified and licensed by the state for their discipline.
The discipline could be a licensed professional counselor, psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed social worker, and other professionals.
These professionals have undergone training and are in a better position to give you a therapy session.
Other things you should be on the lookout for about your potential therapist include:
a. Background and education:
While your therapist may be certified, you can also take the extra time to check their background and training.
Some doctors have a master’s or doctoral degree and have also paired it with specific training in psychological counseling.
b. Area of expertise:
If you have any concerns, you need to ask the therapist before you begin.
One crucial question is whether they have the experience to treat the symptoms which you are experiencing.
The results will be much better compared to resorting to a therapist that has no skill in eating disorders or PTSD, which you may be experiencing.
3. Know the Costs:
Excellent communication with your therapist will enable you to know what the fees are and the payment options you have.
From there onwards, you can decide how you’ll handle the payment.
That being so, if you’re wondering how much it cost to see a therapist in Nigeria, the US, the UK, etc., get in touch with a therapist to have a good idea.
There are also insurance that covers a certain number of therapy sessions yearly; hence, you need to determine if your insurance covers psychotherapy and how much.
Pros and cons of CBT
There are several advantages and disadvantages to CBT.
Some advantages include:
- It teaches patient strategies that can be employed in real life.
- The therapy session can be completed within a shorter amount of time.
- It can be employed where medicine alone may not proffer a solution.
Some of the disadvantages of CBT include:
- Having to juggle your work for the day and regular CBT sessions can be consuming.
- People suffering from complex mental health may not benefit from CBT.
- CBT relies on the person’s willingness to improve themselves for the treatment to work.
- Some experts have opined that CBT only addresses current problems and not the root cause of a mental issue.
Conclusion
Cognitive behavioral therapy near me may not be hard to find, but it is needful to get an understanding of what it entails.
The same applies to the pros and cons of this therapy session; you have to be wary of it.
Lest we forget, you need to ensure that the therapist that handles your session is certified and licensed in the specific field where you will be treated.
It will ensure that you get the best results and that the proper state of your health is restored.
The goal, in the end, is to be happy and have a positive attitude toward life in the face of challenges. Do you need more guidance on how to find any therapist near you? Then BetterHelp is just the right place to visit.