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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
​CBT is practical, structured, and collaborative. It helps people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours that contribute to distress, and develop more supportive ways of responding to challenges.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Toronto and across Ontario
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, often referred to as CBT, is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that focuses on the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. CBT is based on the understanding that how we think about situations influences how we feel and how we respond.
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CBT is practical, structured, and collaborative. It helps people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours that contribute to distress, and develop more supportive ways of responding to challenges.
How CBT Works
CBT focuses on the present while still acknowledging how past experiences shape current patterns. In therapy, we explore how certain thoughts become automatic, how they affect emotions, and how they influence behaviour over time.
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Rather than simply challenging thoughts with positivity, CBT helps you slow down and examine whether your thoughts are accurate, helpful, or aligned with your values. From there, we work on building alternative perspectives and behavioural strategies that reduce distress and increase a sense of control.
CBT is an active process, meaning therapy involves discussion, reflection, and practicing new skills both in and outside of sessions.
Is CBT right for you?
CBT can be a good fit if you are looking for a structured, evidence-based approach that offers practical tools alongside deeper understanding. It can be especially helpful if you want support managing symptoms, changing unhelpful patterns, or building skills to navigate daily challenges more effectively.
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During an initial consultation, we can explore whether CBT or another therapeutic approach feels like the right fit for you.
What CBT looks like in therapy
In CBT sessions, we work collaboratively to understand your specific concerns and goals. Therapy may involve exploring recurring thought patterns, learning tools to manage distress, and experimenting with small, meaningful changes in daily life.
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CBT is not about forcing yourself to think positively or ignoring difficult emotions. Instead, it focuses on increasing awareness, flexibility, and choice in how you respond to thoughts and situations.
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The pace and structure of CBT are adapted to your needs. Some clients prefer a more structured approach, while others benefit from integrating CBT with relational, trauma-informed, or emotion-focused work.
What CBT can help with
CBT is commonly used to support individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, mood disorders, trauma-related symptoms, ADHD-related challenges, and difficulties with self-esteem or perfectionism.
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It can be especially helpful when you notice patterns such as overthinking, avoidance, self-criticism, or feeling stuck in cycles that repeat despite your best efforts.
CBT at Hedefa Psychology Clinic
At Hedefa Psychology Clinic, CBT is offered within an integrative and trauma-informed framework. This means CBT is not used rigidly or in isolation. Your cultural background, identity, lived experience, and nervous system responses are all taken into account.
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CBT may be combined with approaches such as ACT, DBT, emotion-focused, or psychodynamic therapy to ensure treatment feels supportive, relevant, and respectful of your whole experience.
