How We Work

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a present-focused, skills-based therapy rooted in the concept that our thoughts, feelings and behaviors are connected. By identifying and changing unhelpful patterns in your thinking and behavior, you will start to feel better, learn to accept unwanted emotions, and work towards value-driven goals. Change is dependent on practicing what you’re learning, so your therapist will assign you opportunities to practice between sessions. CBT is effective for treating depression, excessive worrying, disordered eating and body image concerns, and insomnia, among other problems.

Our therapists have expertise in a specific kind of CBT called exposure therapy, which helps people with OCD, social anxiety, panic disorder, PTSD, phobias, and body dysmorphic disorder. Exposure therapy involves gradually facing the things you fear. You’ll also practice resisting urges to engage in behaviors that you do to try and get rid of your anxiety, but paradoxically end up keeping it going. Over time, your thinking about these feared situations and ability to tolerate them will change, helping you become less driven by anxiety.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of CBT that focuses on moving away from extremes in thinking and behavior, being in the present moment by practicing mindfulness, and learning concrete skills for managing intense emotions and interpersonal relationships. Several of our therapists can provide individual therapy that is informed by the theory of DBT and incorporates DBT skills. For some, this is sufficient and very helpful. If your therapist feels like you need more support, you may instead be referred to a comprehensive DBT program.

DBT involves skills training in addition to individual therapy. Skills training is didactic in nature and resembles a class format. Elevate CBT offers one-on-one skills training to those for whom attending skills training in a group format is less feasible or effective. This service is available to clients receiving one-on-one therapy at Elevate CBT, as well as clients working with outside therapists. Skills training modules include Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, Interpersonal Effectiveness, and Walking the Middle Path.

If you are a therapist implementing CBT, DBT, or exposure therapy with your clients, our advanced therapists at Elevate CBT can offer supervision and consultation. We are passionate about training others in evidence-based therapies, and have prior experience supervising and training doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, social work interns, and psychiatry residents.