Looking for CBT in Milton, Oakville, Georgetown or beyond?

Suntree Wellness provides high quality Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to clients. Read this article to learn what CBT is all about.

What is CBT?

CBT is the most evidence-based therapy that currently exists, meaning it has the most research to support its use.

In general, CBT looks at within specific situations, what are the thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviours we engage in. Then, CBT helps us identify different ways of thinking about the situation and/or different ways of responding to the situation to reduce negative emotions and help us reach personal goals.

How does CBT work?

CBT is meant to be collaborative between the client and the therapist. Some therapists are extremely structured in therapy, setting an agenda for the session and following a specific treatment manual. Other therapists adopt a more flexible approach, based on the client’s needs. There are pros and cons of both approaches.

Homework is an important part of CBT. Don’t worry, it’s not the same homework as you completed in school. Homework within CBT simply means identifying what skills you need to practice, or what goals you want to make progress on, between sessions.

We always say, talking to someone for 50 minutes once per week is not going to radically change your life. Instead, you have to put into practice the different skills and strategies discussed in session to see meaningful and quick changes. This is why people say that therapy can be hard work!

Who benefits from CBT?

CBT has been shown to help with a wide range of different challenges, including anxiety, depression, anger problems, trauma and stress symptoms (e.g., PTSD), ADHD-related issues, OCD, substance use, relationship issues, parenting challenges, and much more.

However, it is not just people with diagnosable mental health conditions that benefit from CBT. Therapy is also helpful for anyone looking for a neutral third party to help you make important decisions. Your therapist won’t make the decision for you (common misbelief!), but they can help you weigh out different options and make sure you are considering all perspectives.

Examples of things people might discuss in therapy includes issues related to personal identity (such as gender and sexual identity), whether to stay in or leave a relationship, how to set appropriate boundaries with family members or work colleagues, and how to stop feeling ‘stuck’ in life.

Who provides CBT?

CBT should be offered by a licensed mental health provider. Psychologists, social workers, and registered psychotherapists can all provide CBT in Ontario. Other licensed providers such as nurses and occupational therapists may also provide CBT or aspects of CBT, but you will want to be clear what formal training they have received in this area, as this is less common.

Why should I find a psychologist for CBT?

While other professionals can provide CBT, psychologists at the doctoral level (Ph.D., Psy.D.) have received more extensive training than others. Particularly for complex issues or if you have received therapy before without benefitting much, consider finding a psychologist with more expertise in the area. That being said, it must be acknowledged that there are many Master’s-level clinicians who are indeed experts in their field!

Psychologists are also able to diagnose mental health conditions, which many other professionals are not able to do in Ontario. There are a few reasons you might need or want a diagnosis. First, diagnoses can often help with treatment planning; being able to accurately diagnose issues helps us with what to prioritize in CBT. You also might need a diagnosis for a specific reason, such as completing disability paperwork. Psychologists are your best option for both diagnosis and treatment.

Lastly, psychologists are trained in research and evidence-based therapies. This means they should be up-to-date on the latest research findings and treatments. Having a good foundation in research helps us be more effective with therapy.

What are my next steps?

If you are interested in CBT and living in Milton, Oakville, Burlington, or Georgetown, contact Suntree Wellness. We also provide online therapy for individuals living outside of Halton, you only have to be a resident of Ontario to receive services. We offer CBT provided by a psychologist to help improve your life.

Contact our office to get the process started and start your therapy journey.

Call us at ‪(905) 288-7169‬ or email us at info@suntreewellness.com to book an appointment or schedule a free 15-minute consultation.