Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Orange County CA
Negative thoughts can become so automatic that they feel like the truth. You may catch your mind jumping to the worst case, criticizing you, or replaying the same worries until you feel stuck and exhausted. When that happens, it is hard to enjoy your life or feel present with the people you care about.
Do you feel stuck in negative thought patterns that keep you from living the life you want?
It is common to think things like:
- “I always mess things up.”
- “Nothing will ever change.”
- “Other people have it together. I am the one who is failing.”
These thoughts are painful, but they are also habits your mind has learned over time. CBT gives you tools to slow those thoughts down, question them, and respond in ways that support the life you want instead of the one you fear.
Do you get trapped in automatic negative thoughts that create difficult emotions and drive unwanted behaviors?
When automatic thoughts go unchallenged, they often lead to strong emotions and behaviors that do not match your values. For example, you might:
- Avoid social situations because you are sure people are judging you
- Procrastinate or shut down because everything feels overwhelming
- Overthink driving, work, or relationships until you feel paralyzed
In cognitive behavioral therapy in Orange County, we slow this process down together. You learn to notice what your mind is telling you, how it affects your body and behavior, and how to make new choices even when the old patterns feel familiar.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive behavioral therapy is an evidence based form of psychotherapy that looks at how your thoughts, feelings and behaviors are connected. It was first developed in the 1960s to treat depression and has since been researched in thousands of studies for anxiety, trauma, addiction, eating disorders and many other concerns.
In CBT, we work together to:
- Identify automatic thoughts that appear in certain situations
- Understand how those thoughts affect your emotions and behavior
- Explore the deeper beliefs you hold about yourself, others and the world
- Test those beliefs in a practical, compassionate way
- Practice new ways of thinking and responding so change can last
Common CBT strategies include tracking thoughts, cognitive journaling, learning relaxation skills, and role playing difficult conversations so you can respond with more confidence in real life.
Stigma and mental health
Some people and cultures still attach stigma to seeking mental health treatment. You may worry that reaching out means you are weak or that others will not understand. Many people in Orange County stay silent for years and carry their struggles alone.
As a cognitive behavioral therapist in Orange County, I see asking for help as an act of courage. Therapy is a place where you do not have to pretend you are fine. You can speak openly about anxiety, grief, trauma, or relationship stress and begin to understand how your thoughts and beliefs have been shaped by your experiences.
Cognitive processing therapy in Orange County CA
For some people, past trauma or painful life events keep their nervous system on high alert. In those cases we may draw from cognitive processing therapy Orange County CA, a specific form of CBT for trauma that helps you examine stuck beliefs about safety, trust, power, control and worth.
This trauma focused CBT work can be integrated with other parts of your therapy and, when appropriate, with EMDR therapy in Orange County to support deeper healing from PTSD and complex trauma.
What can CBT therapy help with?
CBT can be adapted for many psychological and emotional concerns. After an assessment and history, we create a focused treatment plan that fits your needs and goals.
I use cognitive behavioral therapy in Orange County to help adults with:
That includes cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety Orange County residents face at work, school and in relationships, as well as cognitive behavioral therapy for driving anxiety Orange County commuters who no longer feel safe on the road.
- Anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder
- Panic attacks and panic disorder
- PTSD and trauma related symptoms
- Social anxiety and isolation
- Driving anxiety and specific fears that limit daily life
- Depression and low mood
- Stress, burnout and perfectionism
- Childhood trauma and the patterns that follow you into adult life
- Anger management and emotional reactivity
- Marital and relationship conflict
- Substance use and recovery support
- Eating and body image concerns
- Chronic pain and health related anxiety
- Thought disorders, including schizophrenia, in coordination with psychiatric care
CBT is a structured, goal oriented approach. We choose a few clear targets, track your progress, and adjust your plan as your life changes.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Let’s take the first step together. Call so we can schedule a consultation.
Cognitive behavioral therapist in Orange County and across California
I provide cognitive behavioral therapy in Orange County through my two offices and via secure telehealth within California:
- Los Alamitos Office: 5212 Katella Avenue Ste 103B, Los Alamitos, CA 90720
- Costa Mesa Office: 3001 Red Hill Ave #216, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Clients come from nearby communities such as Irvine, Orange, Tustin, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Anaheim. Many people first reach out after searching for cognitive behavioral therapy Costa Mesa, cognitive behavioral therapy Irvine, cognitive therapy Orange County, or a cognitive behavioral therapist in Orange. If that is you, this is the region I serve.
For some people, CBT is their primary therapy. For others, it is integrated with relational, mindfulness based or trauma focused work so that both your thoughts and your deeper emotional world are supported.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Let’s take the first step together. Call so we can schedule a consultation.
You Do Not Have to Figure This Out Alone
If you are reading this, a part of you already knows that the way you have been coping is not working anymore. You do not need to wait for a crisis before you reach out.
Let’s take the first step together. Call (714) 388-6457 so we can schedule a consultation and see whether CBT with me is a good fit for you.
From my offices in Los Alamitos and Costa Mesa, I offer cognitive behavioral therapy in Orange County, CA and online throughout California.