Evanston Counseling
  • Home
  • Therapy Services
    • Who We Help
      • Therapy for Teenagers
      • Therapy for College Students
      • Therapy for Young Adults
      • Couples Therapy & Marriage Counseling
      • Therapy for Moms
      • Therapy for Empty Nesters
    • Our Specialties
      • Therapy for Anxiety
      • Therapy for Depression
      • LGBTQIA Affirming Therapy
      • Chronic Pain Treatment
    • Our Approaches
      • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
      • Hypnotherapy
      • Pet Therapy
      • Online Therapy
  • Evanston Therapists
    • Andrea Figueroa, MA
    • Isabella Koptik, LSW
    • Alexa Castillo, LPC
    • Catherine Boyce, Ph.D
    • Lily Ohl, LSW, CADC
    • Kevin Miller, PhD
    • Our Therapy Spaces
  • FAQ
  • Blog
  • Contact/Consult
  • Menu Menu
CBT

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Can it Help You?

Did you know that your thinking patterns are so strong that they can change how you behave and feel? As you’ve searched online for a therapist (we are happy that you found us here at Evanston Counseling!), you probably have seen that we offer something called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). You might have thought…What is this? How can it help me? How is it different from other forms of therapy? We wanted to answer your questions. You need to know what awaits you as you enter into counseling with us in the Evanston and Chicago area. 

The way you think can modify the choices you make and how you live. This is great news, especially if you would like to see changes in your life. Perhaps you no longer want your social anxiety to keep you home on a Saturday night. Or you’d love to feel a stronger connection to your partner. With our therapists at Evanston Counseling, you can develop strategies through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). They can lead to more of the life you desire. Let’s take a closer look at CBT, your thinking and how you can begin making life-altering changes. 

What is CBT?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a popular form of talk therapy. It is a type of psychotherapeutic treatment which

“helps people learn how to identify and change destructive or disturbing thought patterns that have a negative influence on behavior and emotions. ”

Both clinical practice and research studies point to the effectiveness of CBT in bringing people greater mental wellness and fulfillment in life. 

This article by the American Psychological Association lists the following as the core principles of CBT:

  • Psychological problems are based, in part, on faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking.

  • Psychological problems are based, in part, on learned patterns of unhelpful behavior.

  • People suffering from psychological problems can learn better ways of coping with them, thereby relieving their symptoms and becoming more effective in their lives.

As you work with one of our therapists at Evanston Counseling, you will identify the “unhelpful ways of thinking” that keep you from living with less anxiety, healthier relationships, or less problematic chronic pain. 

Does every conversation with your teen end in a shouting match? Through CBT, you would learn new behavioral patterns that could lead to more peaceful communication with your child. 

Do you think no one will ever love you? Have you stopped going on dates, and have you ended up no longer being social? Do you spend most of your weekends at home? In the meantime, your dating anxiety is growing. All the while, your deepest desire is to find someone special to be your life partner. Engaging in CBT could help you change thinking patterns and give you strategies for getting back into dating!

In which situations is CBT used?

Research consistently shows that CBT benefits almost any condition, person, or context. 

Most often, therapists choose to use CBT strategies for the following mental health disorders**:

  • Depression

  • Anxiety disorders

  • Phobias

  • PTSD

  • Sleep disorders

  • Eating disorders

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

  • Substance use disorders

  • Bipolar disorders

  • Schizophrenia

  • Sexual disorders

  • Addiction

  • Anger issues

  • Panic attacks

  • Personality disorders

  • Phobias

**This verywellmind.com article and this mayoclinic.com article provided the content for this list.

Yet, CBT is also helpful when you find yourself dealing with any of the following emotional stressors or situations:

  • Coping with stressful life situations

  • Identifying ways to manage emotions

  • Resolving relationship conflicts and learning better ways to communicate

  • Coping with grief or loss

  • Overcoming emotional trauma related to abuse or violence

  • Coping with a medical illness

  • Managing chronic physical symptoms

  • Divorce or break-ups

  • Insomnia

  • Low self-esteem

  • Anxiety and stress management

What can you expect in sessions with one of Evanston Counseling’s therapists?

When you come to see us for the first time, it might feel a little like the first visit to your doctor. We want to find out what has been going on for you, how long you’ve felt this way, your symptoms, what your childhood was like, (though we won’t stay there long), and about your relationships (family, friends, and romantic partnerships). These questions will help us to get to know one another. Our therapists want to know more about you and the type of strategies that will work best for you.

In sessions after that, you will want to be as open as possible with sharing your feelings and emotions. You may have some “assignments” to complete in between sessions. Your counselor may ask you to read something, complete an activity, practice situations, or keep a journal. 

The CBT steps might look like this:

  1. Identify troubling situations or conditions in your life.

  2. Become aware of your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs about these problems.

  3. Identify negative or inaccurate thinking

  4. Reshape negative or inaccurate thinking. 

You may find that our time together lasts somewhere between 5-20 sessions. Of course, this depends on many factors. In general, CBT is more short-term than many other types of therapy. 

A little encouragement…

We ask you to keep an open mind about yourself, your situation, and the counseling. Be willing to change and work on getting to the place you eventually want to be. You may feel intense emotions: anger, sadness, guilt, grief. Yet, every session will probably not be like that. Please commit to the entire process. If things aren’t working, let your therapist know. We are committed to you and want you to feel better.

Reach out to us today to see how CBT can help you.

January 20, 2022/by Evanston Counseling
https://evanstoncounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Evanston-Counseling-CBT-pexels-shvets-production-7176297.jpg 800 1200 Evanston Counseling https://evanstoncounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Asset-3-1.png Evanston Counseling2022-01-20 03:14:082023-07-17 18:16:50What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Can it Help You?
You might also like
Lower anxiety and beat chronic pain with CBT for IBS and GI Distress
Young woman giving a presentation. Looking to curb your social anxiety? CBT for anxiety in Evanston, IL through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy might help! How CBT for Anxiety Can Help Tame Your Social Anxiety
A woman sits at her desk holding her face thinking at work. Do you think Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help you manage your stress? A CBT therapist in Evanston, IL can help you answer that. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Conquering Your Stress
How does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Work and Can It Change My Thinking?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapists in Evanston focus on Depression: Can Powerful Thoughts Lift Your Mood?
College students walking to class, representing how cognitive behavioral therapy in Chicago, IL, can support personal growth and mental health for therapy for college students in Chicago, IL. How Can CBT Help College Students?

Latest Posts

  • Shows a group of friends jumping up in the air in a field. Represents how therapy for college students in Chicago, IL and therapy for teens in Evanston, IL can help you enjoy your summer.Is Summer Good For Students?May 15, 2025 - 12:00 pm
  • A college student sits at an outdoor table with a pencil and papers, appearing distracted and emotionally distant—symbolizing the challenges of academic pressure and social disconnection that can be addressed through therapy for college students in Chicago, IL with support from a young adult therapist in Illinois.Why Do I Feel FOMO in College?April 25, 2025 - 12:00 pm
  • A college student leans back in a chair with a book covering their face, surrounded by study materials—illustrating the overwhelm of academic burnout and the need for support like therapy for college students in Chicago, IL or guidance from a young adult therapist in Illinois.What Does College Burnout Feel Like?April 15, 2025 - 12:00 pm
  • A teen holds a smartphone with the TikTok app open, highlighting how social media use can impact mental health—an issue often explored in teen therapy in Evanston, IL and through counseling for teenagers in Evanston, IL.Why Does Posting on Social Media Give Me So Much Anxiety?March 25, 2025 - 12:00 pm
  • A stressed teen with their head on a desk surrounded by books, overwhelmed with emotions. Learn how an Evanston teenage therapist and teen therapy in Evanston, IL can provide support.What to Do When Your Teen Tells You They Are Crashing OutMarch 15, 2025 - 12:00 pm

Topics in our Blog

  • Anxiety (10)
  • CBT (7)
  • Chronic Pain (4)
  • College Students (23)
  • Counseling Evanston (7)
  • Depression (6)
  • Empty Nesters (3)
  • Evanston Therapist (12)
  • GI Distress (6)
  • Hypnotherapy (2)
  • LGBTQ+ Therapy (5)
  • Maternal Mental Health (7)
  • Mental Health (17)
  • Mental Health and Wellness (15)
  • Moms (12)
  • Pet-assisted Therapy (1)
  • Relationships (9)
  • Teenagers (15)
  • Therapy in Evanston (15)

Tags

Anxiety anxiety management Chronic pain clinical hypnosis cognitive behavioral therapy college student mental health College Students conflict resolution coping strategies Counseling FAQ's couples depression emotional well-being empty nest Evanston Evanston Counseling therapists exercise family dynamics faulty thinking find a therapist in Evanston fun in Evanston gut-brain connection happiness healthy relationships insurance lifestyle changes life transitions loneliness maternal mental health mom counseling moms New moms postpartum depression pregnancy relationships sadness self-care self-esteem social connections stress management Teens Therapy for college students therapy for depression Therapy for teenagers treatment for depression

Evanston Counseling, PLLC

636 Church St, Ste. 603 | Evanston, IL 60201

(773) 983-8444

info@evanstoncounseling.com

Schedule Your Consultation

Evanston Psychologists | Evanston Therapists
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Couples Counseling, and College Student Therapy

Copyright © 2025 Evanston Counseling, PLLC

Say Goodbye to Holiday Anxiety and Embrace More PeaceHow to Be More Alive and Have Less Struggle with Chronic Pain
Scroll to top