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CBT therapy in Phoenix, Scottsdale & Mesa

CBT helps you notice the thoughts shaping how you feel and act, then build steadier ones, so you get practical relief you can carry into everyday life. If your thinking keeps working against you, CBT gives you a clear, proven way to shift it.

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The basics

The idea behind CBT

CBT stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It was developed by psychiatrist Dr. Aaron Beck in the 1960s.

The core idea is that your thoughts, feelings, and actions are linked, and that shifting unhelpful thought patterns can change how you feel and what you do.

CBT is practical and present focused. Rather than spending most of your time on the past, you work on what is keeping a problem going now, and what can loosen it. It is often more structured and shorter term than other therapies, though your therapist always moves at your pace.

One thing worth knowing: CBT is a skill. You are not only talking things through, you are building tools you can keep using long after therapy ends.

How it works

How CBT works

CBT gives you a clear, repeatable way to work with the thoughts driving how you feel. Your therapist guides you through it, at your pace.

1

Notice

You catch the thoughts that show up in hard moments, the ones quietly shaping how you feel.

2

Examine

Together you look at whether those thoughts are as true, or as helpful, as they feel.

3

Practice

You build steadier responses and try small steps between sessions, so change reaches your real life.

Who it is for

What CBT can help with

CBT is a first-line approach for anxiety and depression, and it also helps with many related struggles.

What to know

Before you start

In practice
About 50 minutes
A focused, structured session
Often shorter-term
Many people notice movement within a few months
In person or online
Any Valley office, or telehealth anywhere in Arizona
The evidence

The most-studied form of talk therapy, recommended as a first-line treatment for anxiety and depression.

American Psychological AssociationUK NICE guidelinesHundreds of clinical trials
Our therapists

Find a therapist trained in CBT

Several of our licensed Arizona therapists use CBT in their work. Answer a few quick questions and we'll shortlist the ones who fit you, or browse the full team.

More ways we help

We help with a lot more, too

Carrying more than one thing at once? Here are a few related areas, or see everything we help with.

FAQ

Common CBT questions, answered

What is CBT and how does it work?
CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, is a practical type of therapy based on the link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. You notice unhelpful thought patterns, look at how accurate they really are, and practice steadier responses, often with small steps between sessions so the work carries into daily life.
Is CBT just positive thinking?
No. CBT is not about forcing positive thoughts. It is about noticing the thoughts you already have, testing whether they are as true or as helpful as they feel, and building more balanced, realistic ones. It is a practical, evidence-based skill you build with your therapist over time.
Will I get homework?
Usually, in a light way. CBT often includes small between-session steps, like noticing a pattern or trying a new response, so change happens in your real life and not only in the room. Your therapist keeps it realistic and works with you at a pace that fits.
How is CBT different from DBT?
CBT focuses on changing unhelpful thought patterns and is a first-line approach for anxiety and depression. DBT builds on CBT with added skills for intense emotions and relationships. Many people do well with CBT; those who feel emotions very intensely may prefer DBT. Your therapist helps you decide.
Does insurance cover CBT?
Often. CBT is delivered in a standard therapy session and billed like any session. We are in-network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare/Optum, and self-pay starts at $50 per session with a graduate intern. We verify your coverage for free before your first session.