Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT changes how you think, which changes how you feel. If you are dealing with anxiety, depression, OCD, or insomnia, CBT gives you a concrete skill set to manage your symptoms, typically in 12 to 20 sessions. Our therapists are trained in standard CBT, ERP for OCD, CBT-I for insomnia, and CPT for trauma.
CBT is covered by virtually all insurance plans that include mental health benefits.
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Identify the thought
Your therapist helps you notice the automatic thoughts that fire when you feel distressed. These are often distorted: catastrophizing, all-or-nothing thinking, mind-reading.
Evaluate it
Together you examine the evidence for and against the thought. Is it accurate? Is it helpful? What would you tell a friend who had this thought?
Develop alternatives
You build more balanced ways of thinking and practice them until they become automatic. This is not positive thinking. It is accurate thinking.
Change behavior
As your thinking shifts, your therapist helps you gradually face situations you have been avoiding, building confidence through structured exposure.
Standard CBT
Identifies cognitive distortions and teaches you to evaluate and restructure them. Goal-oriented, structured, typically 12-20 sessions.
Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP)
Gradually exposes you to triggering situations while preventing the compulsive response. The gold standard for OCD treatment.
CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Addresses the thoughts and behaviors preventing restful sleep. Recommended as first-line treatment by the American College of Physicians.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Examines unhelpful beliefs that developed after trauma, such as self-blame and loss of safety. Structured over 12 sessions.
Trauma-Informed Yoga
Complements CBT by addressing physical tension and stress responses. Free for all Savant Care patients.
How is CBT different from other therapy?
CBT is more structured and present-focused than most approaches. Sessions follow a consistent format with homework between sessions. It focuses on current thought patterns rather than extensively exploring childhood history.
How many sessions will I need?
Most people see significant improvement in 12-20 sessions. CBT-I for insomnia is often shorter (6-8 sessions). Your therapist discusses a realistic timeline during your first few appointments.
Does CBT work for everyone?
CBT has the strongest evidence base of any psychotherapy, but it requires active participation and practice between sessions. If CBT is not the right fit, your therapist will discuss alternatives.
Can I combine CBT with medication?
Yes. For moderate to severe anxiety and depression, combining CBT with medication often produces better outcomes than either alone. Our therapists and psychiatric providers coordinate on the same team.
Is CBT covered by insurance?
Yes. CBT is covered by virtually all insurance plans with mental health benefits. We accept 22+ plans. Call (866) 499-2588 to verify.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Ellen A. Machikawa
What the research says about CBT
A major review in Cognitive Therapy and Research found CBT effective across depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and OCD (Hofmann et al., 2012). The American College of Physicians recommends CBT-I as the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia. CBT is typically structured over 12-20 sessions, and research shows that gains are maintained long after therapy ends.
At Savant Care, your CBT therapist works alongside psychiatric providers. If medication could support your progress, the conversation happens within the same team rather than through referrals to outside offices.
Ready to start?
Book online or call us. Most patients are seen within 48 hours.