Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular psychotherapy that can help treat mental health issues by improving thinking patterns. CBT works by helping people to understand how their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are interconnected. By recognizing the thoughts and emotions that contribute to negative behaviors, people can learn to change those behaviors.
If your teen is struggling, the cognitive-behavioral therapy program at Imagine Nampa can help. Imagine Nampa provides full-day treatment to teens aged 12-17 in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment. Contact us online or by calling 888.503.4604 today to discover the benefits of CBT.
What Is CBT and How Does it Work?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that helps people change their thinking and behavior. The core principles of CBT are:
- Mental health issues are based partly on irrational or unhealthy thinking patterns
- Mental health issues are based partly on learned patterns of maladaptive behaviors
- Individuals with mental health disorders can learn healthy coping skills to relieve their symptoms and improve their quality of life
In our teen CBT program, therapists help teens identify unhealthy thoughts and feelings and replace them with healthier ones. Once teens understand why they think or feel specific ways and how those thoughts and feelings contribute to their mental health and influence their behaviors, they develop the ability to change.
CBT is highly goal-oriented, patient-centered, and adaptable to each teen’s unique needs. CBT uses a variety of techniques, including:
- Cognitive restructuring or reframing
- Exposure therapy
- Journaling
- Relaxation and stress reduction
- Guided discovery and self-observation
- Problem-solving skills and coping mechanisms
- Role-playing
At Imagine Nampa, CBT is utilized in group therapy and individual counseling sessions. Both techniques are part of our comprehensive, integrated approach to providing holistic mental healthcare to address teens’ overall well-being.
Benefits of CBT for Teens
Teens can experience benefits numerous benefits from CBT, including:
- Learning how distortions in thinking contribute to their problems
- Learning healthy techniques for coping with stressful situations
- Identifying ways to manage emotions
- Developing effective communication skills
- Learning to dismiss inaccurate beliefs
- Learning to identify and manage triggers
- Developing self-esteem and confidence in one’s abilities
- Increasing understanding of the behavior of others
- Overcoming fears that hold them back
Because CBT is highly goal-oriented, our therapists work closely with teens to help identify specific goals they want to achieve. Using CBT to set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based goals makes the recovery process more manageable. When teens see concrete results on a session-to-session basis, it helps them become more invested in treatment.
While CBT is highly effective, it may not work for every teen. For CBT to be effective, teens must fully engage in the process. Our treatment team will determine if CBT is appropriate for your teen through a thorough assessment of their needs.
What Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Helps
CBT has been proven effective for treating a wide range of mental health disorders impacting teens, including:
- Eating disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Personality disorders
- Mood disorders
- Psychotic disorders
- Trauma-related disorders
- Co-occurring substance use disorders
- Developmental disorders
- Behavior disorders
We utilize CBT in our partial hospitalization program (PHP) and intensive outpatient program (IOP). Using CBT, we help teens focus on problems affecting them in the present so they can address acute mental health symptoms and behaviors. CBT is not a stand-alone treatment but one component of a comprehensive treatment plan designed to address your teens’ physical, psychological, and psychosocial needs.
Learn More About CBT for Teens at Imagine Nampa
At Imagine Nampa, our cognitive-behavioral therapy program is individualized to meet your teens’ unique needs. We also offer a range of other evidence-based therapies and treatment modalities to address your teen’s specific situation.
If you would like to learn more about how our CBT program can help your teen, please contact us today at 888.503.4604 to learn more about the benefits of CBT for teens.