Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for trauma, anxiety, depression, and other psychological concerns. Trauma-focused CBT involves looking at how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected as well as how they have been shaped by traumatic experiences. After a trauma we can sometimes fall into unhelpful patters of thinking that change the way we view ourselves, others, and the world. These unhelpful thinking styles lead to painful emotions and changes into our behavior. CBT can help us to shift into healthier ways of thinking while learning skills and tools to manage our emotions, and live in a more healthy way. Under the CBT umbrella are multiple treatments. I am trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, and Trauma-Focused CBT which have all been proven to relieve traumatic stress symptoms and distress.

Is CBT Invalidating?

Some critiques to CBT treatment are that it feels invalidating to trauma survivors despite its strong evidence base for effectiveness. As a provider I understand how and why this can happen. CBT treatment that doesn’t validate where unhelpful thinking styles and associated reactions stem from and instead just labels thoughts as “irrational” can feel incredibly invalidating. When I use CBT techniques it is always includes connecting these thoughts to the context of your life experiences. I take special care to provide psychoeducation about how trauma influences or thoughts and reactions so that it makes sense where this comes from. We make sure to place the blame where it belongs- on the trauma, and not onto the individual. These unhelpful thoughts are not an innate part of you. They were formed and shaped by traumatic experiences, and were even helpful at some point. For example, if you grew up in an unsafe situation the belief of “No one can be trusted” was a helpful belief that protected you and helped keep you cautious and more safe. Later, when the trauma has ended this belief is no longer helpful and may interfere with being able to form healthy or trusting relationships. The context and original purpose of the thought matter. To learn more about how thoughts and beliefs can be shaped by trauma and become unhelpful read my blog on this topic here.