CBT Works for me!

March 18, 2010

My week was unusual in that I was interviewed on three occasions about myself and my work, so I’ve decided to go with the trend and debrief the experience on my Q&A blog. It felt remarkably great to look back on my career as a therapist and realize that I’ve learned and grown so much since filling out those applications for graduate school. Way back then, I knew I wanted to be a clinician, to be helpful and positively influential – fast forward 20+ years; I unequivocally know that I’ve landed on a few theories and techniques that have worked well for both myself and most, if not all, of my clients.

Through my personal and professional experience, I have become a strong proponent of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, or CBT. CBT is based on a few simple principles that, when put into action, can have profound, life-changing effects. One principle harks back to the Greek philosopher, Epictetus, who stated “Man is not disturbed by events, but by the view he takes of them.”  The situations and circumstances of our lives are not what cause our depression or anxiety, but rather, how we perceive and talk to ourselves about these situations. For example, being assigned a new project by a boss or teacher may be met with a number of reactions. You might think to yourself, “Oh crap – here we go. I can’t do this. I’m going to fail and then I’ll be out of a job.” Result? Intense anxiety. Or, you might think, “Wow – this is a huge opportunity to show off my skills. I’m going to make sure I schedule enough time to work on this.” Emotional result? Positive anticipation, confidence, and energy.

This guiding principle is ultimately liberating for most of us who like to feel in control of our lives. Although we have little to no control over others or future events, we are definitely in the driver’s seat when it comes to our own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.   We are rarely, however, aware of the telegraphic messages we send ourselves that have such tremendous impact on our internal emotional climate and self-esteem. CBT helps bring our self-talk to consciousness, where we can listen, learn, and effect positive change. The theory is simple, but the work may not be easy, which is why an empathic and supportive guide is helpful to have along for the ride. I’ve fully enjoyed my life in the passenger seat and hope to travel many more miles with many more drivers.

Let’s go!