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CBT for Mental Health

therapist explaining how cbt for mental health can help to a teenage girl

The teen years are a critical developmental period during which struggles with mental health are not uncommon. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three high school students reports symptoms of depression, and one in six experiences a major depressive episode. Therapy can be an essential resource for helping teens manage the symptoms of depression and other challenges associated with adolescence.

At Imagine Nampa, we provide holistic, comprehensive mental health care for teens ages 12-17 in a safe, supportive environment. Our cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program helps teens understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, to change dysfunctional patterns contributing to mental health symptoms. CBT is a hands-on, goal-oriented technique effective for treating many emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues. Contact Imagine Nampa at 888.503.4604 to learn more about CBT for teens.

How Does CBT for Mental Health Work?

At the core of CBT is the notion that thoughts influence behaviors. Teens often develop distorted thoughts and beliefs about themselves, others, and the world around them, and their unhealthy behaviors are rooted in these cognitive distortions.

Cognitive distortions are patterns of thinking or believing that are false or inaccurate and potentially cause psychological damage. Examples of cognitive distortions include:

  • Polarized thinking – Seeing things in terms of extremes; for example, there is either success or failure and nothing in between.
  • Catastrophizing – Making problems more significant than they actually are
  • Emotional reasoning – Acceptance of emotions as facts; “I feel it, so it must be true”
  • Overgeneralizing – Using always or never thinking; “This always happens to me,” or “I never do well”
  • Jumping to conclusions – Assuming you know what someone else is thinking or making conclusions based on little evidence and holding them as true

It is easy to see how these cognitive distortions can be problematic. In CBT, therapists actively work with teens to identify and work through specific automatic negative thoughts and replace them with healthier, more realistic ones.

CBT utilizes a variety of exercises in therapy sessions and homework exercises outside of sessions. While CBT does not entirely discount information and events about the past, its primary focus is on the present and moving forward to develop more adaptive ways of coping with life’s challenges.

Why Choose a Teen Mental Health Treatment Center?

On the surface, it may seem that adult and adolescent mental health treatments are the same, but there are significant differences. Psychiatrists and psychologists specializing in treating teens are trained to account for the unique challenges teens face. Additionally, teen therapy considers brain development and how it impacts intellectual, emotional, and behavioral functioning.

Teen therapy typically involves more variety to account for shorter attention spans and more interactive and physical therapies to keep teens engaged. At Imagine Nampa, in addition to traditional talk therapy and CBT, we incorporate:

  • Art therapy
  • Music therapy
  • Mindfulness and meditation
  • Yoga
  • Pet therapy
  • Crisis intervention counseling
  • Teen relationship counseling
  • Anger management
  • Coping skills training

Group therapy is an integral part of our outpatient programs. When teens are struggling, they often feel misunderstood and isolated. Group therapy shows them that many of their peers struggle with similar issues and gives them a safe place to work through their thoughts and feelings. Teens are more likely to talk freely with their peers than with parents, and group therapy allows them to be open in a supportive setting.

Learn More About CBT for Mental Health at Imagine Nampa

The cognitive-behavioral therapy program at Imagine Nampa offers teens the opportunity to learn, heal, and grow to lead a healthy, quality life now and in the future. CBT effectively treats numerous mental health and behavioral issues, including:

  • ADHD
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Depression
  • Developmental disorders
  • Eating disorders
  • Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Substance use disorders

At Imagine Nampa, our cognitive-behavioral therapy program is individualized to meet your teens’ unique needs. We help teens address acute and chronic mental health symptoms and behaviors using CBT and other evidence-based therapies. Contact Imagine Nampa at 888.503.4604 to learn more about the benefits of CBT for teens’ mental health.