Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT Therapy
in Mount Pearl
& St. John's
Practical, evidence-based strategies to help you understand unhelpful patterns, navigate difficult emotions, and make meaningful changes in everyday life.
WHAT IS CBT?
Understanding the Connection Between Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviours
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a structured, evidence-based form of psychotherapy that explores how our thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviours influence one another.
Sometimes we develop patterns of thinking or responding that helped us cope in the past but may no longer be helpful in our present circumstances. These patterns can affect how we see ourselves, interpret situations, manage stress, and respond to challenges.
CBT helps us recognize these patterns, explore whether our interpretations are accurate or helpful, and develop practical strategies for responding differently.
Rather than simply encouraging positive thinking, CBT focuses on developing a more balanced and flexible perspective while making meaningful changes in everyday life.
CBT isn't about thinking positively all the time. It's about learning to think more flexibly and respond to life's challenges in ways that support your well-being.
How Does CBT Work?
Understanding the CBT Cycle
CBT is based on the understanding that our thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviours are interconnected. A change in one area can influence the others.
CBT helps you slow down and explore these connections. You might consider other possible explanations, notice how your body is responding, and experiment with a different behaviour.
Over time, this process can help you recognize unhelpful patterns and develop more flexible ways of responding.
Everyday Situations
Thoughts
Behaviours
Feelings
What Can CBT Help With?
Building Skills for Life's Challenges
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has been extensively researched and is recommended in clinical guidelines for several mental health concerns, including depression and many anxiety disorders.
CBT can help people recognize patterns that contribute to emotional distress, reduce avoidance, develop coping strategies, and build confidence in responding to difficult situations.
The techniques used will depend on your experiences and treatment goals. CBT for anxiety, for example, may look different from CBT for depression, and treatment is adapted accordingly.
CBT at True Life Therapy
A Collaborative, Personalized Approach
In our work together, we'll explore how your thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and life experiences may be influencing one another. We may identify patterns that are contributing to distress, develop practical coping strategies, and experiment with different ways of responding to challenging situations.
I use CBT as part of an integrative approach, drawing from other therapies such as EMDR, IFS, mindfulness, and compassion-focused therapy when appropriate for your needs.
We'll work collaboratively to identify goals that feel meaningful to you and develop strategies that fit your everyday life. The focus is on building understanding, flexibility, and practical skills that you can continue using outside of counselling.
Frequently Asked Questions
CBT FAQ
Trusted Resources
Want to Learn More About CBT?
For additional information about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, research, and practical resources, you can explore these organizations.
Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (CACBT)
A national Canadian organization dedicated to advancing CBT through education, professional training, research, and certification. Its website also provides introductory information about CBT.
Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI)
An Australian public mental health service offering free evidence-informed self-help workbooks, information sheets, and CBT-based exercises for concerns such as anxiety, depression, perfectionism, and low self-esteem