Men’s CBT Therapist in Chicago
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Chicago
Looking for a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist in Chicago? Are you trying to find a therapist who works with men? Hoping to create change with anxiety, stress and negative thinking? If the answer is yes, you aren’t alone.
Many people have found Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to be a life altering wellness tool.
If you’re familiar with psychology, you’ve probably heard of the term “cognitive behavioral therapy,” sometimes shortened to CBT. In a nutshell, this therapeutic approach was developed with the goal of changing the way people think about their problems.
With good CBT practices, individuals who struggle with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and other life challenges can find REAL relief from negative thinking patterns.
As part of my work as a counselor in Chicago, I use mostly CBT techniques. This includes CBT offshoots, like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, otherwise known as ACT.
Here’s the important thing to know – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is firmly centered in the present. It is for this reason CBT is considered a “here and now” therapy.
CBT is Strength and Skill-Based
CBT is strength-based in nature and allows you to draw upon your own internal resources to create meaningful change.
Additionally, CBT is also skill-based. In other words, you are taught skills that are designed to challenge unhealthy thinking patterns and apply them to real life.
Common uses of CBT
Cognitive therapy has a wide swath of applicability. It’s also firmly rooted in the clinical literature as one of the most effective approaches to wellness. You may be wondering what kinds of situations it can be applied to?
Here is a quick rundown:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Negative thinking
- Phobias, panic and fear
- Excessive worry
- Confidence and self-esteem
- Unhealthy patterns of thinking
- Health anxieties
How CBT Helps Men in Chicago
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a highly effective and versatile therapeutic approach that can be particularly beneficial for men in various aspects of their lives. CBT is rooted in the idea that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are interconnected, and it aims to help individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that may be contributing to their psychological distress. Here’s how CBT can specifically help men:
Managing emotional struggles: Men often face societal pressures to suppress their emotions, which can lead to the development of harmful coping mechanisms or emotional bottling. CBT provides a safe and structured environment for men to explore and express their feelings. By addressing thought patterns that may contribute to emotional distress, CBT can help men better manage anxiety, depression, anger, and stress, allowing them to build healthier emotional responses.
Enhancing communication and relationships: CBT can help men improve their interpersonal skills and communication styles. Many men may struggle with expressing their emotions or resolving conflicts, which can strain their personal and professional relationships. CBT can teach men effective strategies for expressing their feelings, understanding the perspectives of others, and navigating relationships more successfully.
Addressing specific issues: Men may face unique challenges such as performance anxiety, body image issues, or addiction. CBT can be tailored to address these specific concerns, helping men develop strategies to overcome these obstacles and work towards their personal goals. For instance, CBT can be effective in treating addiction by addressing the underlying thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to substance abuse.
Promoting self-care and well-being: Men often put their physical and mental health on the back burner due to societal expectations or traditional gender roles. CBT can encourage self-care practices and empower men to prioritize their well-being, helping them develop a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Overall, CBT offers men a structured and evidence-based approach to address a wide range of psychological and emotional issues, empowering them to lead happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. By challenging and reshaping negative thought patterns and behaviors, CBT can be a valuable tool for personal growth and emotional well-being in men.
How I Use CBT Therapy and ACT
When you work with me, there’s a good chance I’ll be giving you some homework assignments. Examples include worksheets that are designed to look at your thoughts through the lens of logic.
An example might be giving you a thought recording worksheet. Other types of homework include taking your thoughts to court or gauging your anxiety levels using a self-reported stress scale.
Additional self-improvement activities may also be part of the dynamic, such as deep breathing exercises, dream work or keeping a thought modification journal.
Because the goal of CBT and ACT is to disrupt thinking distortions, reading assignments are sometimes given to guide you towards healthier ways of thinking.
Believe it or not, I may even pull in pop-culture by asking you to watch a movie. Some folks refer to this as cinema therapy. The idea is to step outside of yourself and assess the world through the eyes of entertainment.
Do you have a favorite actor, vocalist or entertainer? If so, there’s a good chance it will come up as part of our work together. All of these activities are designed to guide you to a place of change.
In this way, CBT offers real-world application while also allowing space for fun.
CBT is Goal Focused and Interactive
As you have probably already figured out, cognitive therapy is goal-focused. It’s the main reason I’ll ask you what you hope to achieve as part of our time together.
There are two reasons for this. First, I care about what you think. Second, it’s important to know your thoughts so that we can assess what is rational and what is not.
Example: Let’s say you describe some things that are going on in your head. If your thoughts are self-limiting, I’ll probably encourage you to think about the issue in different ways.
Yep, that’s right. CBT is all about confronting negative beliefs and dysfunctional patterns of thinking. Socratic questioning is part of it.
Here’s another example. Let’s say you are limiting yourself by the assumption that you aren’t very good at socializing with others.
A substitute thought might be, “I struggle in certain social situations, but that’s okay. I’m currently making progress towards my goal of becoming more social.”
CBT and Hypnotherapy
To help reinforce learning concepts, we may, if appropriate, engage in hypnotherapy. For example, if your goal is to become more confident, CBT can be applied to realign faulty thinking.
As a follow-up, hypnosis can be used to solidify learning concepts while teaching you new coping skills.
The operative word is “may” because hypnosis isn’t right for everyone. Much depends on what is going on in your life, your unique goals and openness to the process.
You can learn more about how I use hypnotherapy here.
CBT Wrap Up
Well, there you have it. A quick cook’s tour of CBT and how I use it as part of counseling and coaching. If you are looking for goal focused solutions that are centered in the here and now, it may be a good fit for your needs.
To learn more about CBT, here’s a link to the Beck Institute.
If you’d like to learn more about how CBT might benefit you, feel free to send me a confidential note on the contact page. You can also call me at 773.704.5300
