Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Orange County, CA at Friendly Recovery Center
If you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help. With flexible options like OP, IOP, PHP, and telehealth, there’s a way forward.
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps you break free from the patterns that keep you stuck, whether it’s overwhelming cravings, fear of relapse after past attempts, or the constant loop of negative thoughts that won’t let up. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything you can and still not moving forward, CBT offers real, practical tools to help you regain control.
This goal-oriented approach is backed by decades of research and has helped countless people manage anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, and more. CBT teaches you how your thoughts, feelings, and actions interact, and how to change the ones that are holding you back. With the right support, you’ll build healthier ways of thinking, learn to manage intense emotions, and take steady steps toward lasting relief.
“When I started Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, I didn’t know what to expect. I’d tried other therapies before, but nothing seemed to stick. What made CBT different was how practical and focused it was. I wasn’t just talking about my past or venting my feelings, and I was learning how to change the patterns that were keeping me stuck.”
Principles of CBT
Spotting Negative Thoughts: Men and women learn to recognize and challenge the negative “automatic thoughts” that bring them down.
Changing Behaviors: Discover ways to change behaviors that are not helping you so that you can feel better.
Learning New Skills: Gain new skills and techniques to handle challenging situations and emotions.
Team Effort: Work closely with a specialized therapist to set goals and keep track of your progress.
The Origins and Impact of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) originated in the 1960s through the innovative work of psychiatrist Dr. Aaron Beck While working with patients experiencing depression, Dr. Beck noticed a recurring pattern: individuals often engaged in persistent, automatic negative thoughts, such as “I’m a failure,” “Nothing will ever get better,” or “People don’t really care about me.” Even though these internal narratives were just passing thoughts, they shaped how people felt and acted in their daily lives. This observation laid the foundation for cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps individuals recognize and reshape those unhelpful mental habits.
How CBT Helps with Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Stress, and Trauma
CBT is all about helping you work toward real change, and it’s been shown to help with all kinds of mental health struggles.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): CBT helps ease severe depression and boosts mood and motivation.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): CBT reduces anxiety levels and makes everyday life more manageable.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): CBT offers tools to break free from obsessive behaviors.
Stress Management: With CBT, people learn how to handle life’s stressors and reduce reactivity.
Process Trauma: Experience a safe framework for healing from past trauma, including PTSD.
“CBT didn’t fix everything overnight. But it gave me a toolkit, one I still use today to manage my emotions, reduce stress, and stay grounded when life gets tough. It helped me see that my thoughts weren’t facts, and that I had the power to change them.”
CBT Techniques
CBT uses a variety of empirically supported interventions:
Cognitive Restructuring: Clients learn to identify, challenge, and reframe distorted thoughts.
Behavioral Activation: Positive and meaningful activities used to counteract avoidance, improve mood, and reduce depression.
Exposure Therapy: A core strategy for anxiety-related disorders involving systematic desensitization to feared stimuli.
Self-Monitoring: Clients track thoughts, symptoms, or behaviors to enhance self-awareness and inform treatment.
Problem-Solving Training: A structured five-step process shown to enhance coping and reduce distress.
Skills Training: Includes assertiveness, communication, and coping skills for daily stressors.
Key Advantages of CBT
Friendly Recovery in Tustin/Orange County is scientific and client-centered, with our most notable advantages being:
Short-Term and Structured: Most individuals experience substantial improvement within 12 to 20 sessions.
Flexible Delivery: It can be effectively implemented in individual, group, or virtual formats, making it accessible to a broader audience of those in need.
Empirically Supported: CBT is one of the most rigorously evaluated therapies, with consistently positive results across different settings and populations.
Collaborative Process: CBT emphasizes a transparent, goal-oriented partnership between therapist and client, fostering engagement and self-efficacy.
Skills-Based Approach: Clients learn tangible skills for managing emotions, reducing distress, and building long-term emotional resilience.
Getting Started With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Knowing what to expect can make the process more approachable. The first session isn’t about fixing everything. It’s about understanding what you’re going through and creating a plan that works for you.
Here’s what can help you feel more prepared as you begin:
- Consult a Healthcare Provider: A physician or psychiatrist can provide referrals.
- Find a CBT Therapist: Explore trusted professional directories like those from national organizations.
- Verify Insurance Coverage: Our team can help you navigate the complexities of verifying insurance.
What to Expect in Therapy
In your first session, your therapist will get to know your background, explore your current concerns, and start identifying key cognitive and behavioral patterns. Together, you’ll begin building an understanding of how your thoughts, feelings, and actions correlate. As sessions continue, you’ll evaluate what’s working, adjust what’s not, and develop practical tools to manage stress, anxiety, and other symptoms.
Here’s what makes our approach to CBT effective and supportive:
Experts in CBT: Our therapists are experts in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Personalized Plans: We make a plan based on your desires and needs.
More Than Just CBT: We have many ways to help you feel better inside and out.
Safe Place: Our center is a comfortable and supportive place to feel better.
Proven Success: Many people like you have improved with our help.
Whole-Person Care: We look at everything that can help you feel better.
At Friendly Recovery in Tustin, CA, we keep things flexible because we know life doesn’t always follow a set schedule. Whether you’re looking for the structure of a Partial Hospitalization Program or the support of an Intensive Outpatient Program, we’ve got you covered. Need something more laid-back like Outpatient Care? Or the ease of Telehealth from home? We’ve got those too. Our nurturing team is here to guide you with care!
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy FAQs
How long does CBT take to work?
Many people see significant improvement within 12 to 20 sessions, though this may vary depending on your unique needs and goals.
What makes Friendly different?
Our therapists are highly trained in CBT and offer personalized care in a safe, supportive environment. We also integrate additional therapies like DBT for a more comprehensive approach.
What happens in a CBT session?
In a CBT session, you'll work with a therapist to identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, set goals, learn coping strategies, and practice new skills in real-life situations.
Is CBT covered by insurance?
Many insurance plans cover CBT. We recommend contacting our team for help verifying your benefits. Or you can verify your insurance online.
Is CBT in-person or online?
We offer both in-person settings in Tustin, CA, and virtual CBT sessions to make treatment accessible, convenient, and comfortable.
How do I get started with CBT?
Simply contact us to schedule a consultation. We'll match you with a licensed CBT therapist and help you improve your mental health!
CBT Helps You Break the Cycle
Medically Reviewed By: Shahana Ham, LCSW
Shahana Ham, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California. She specializes in client-centered care for individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges, fostering a supportive environment for healing and growth.
