CBT Therapy
Rewiring the Thoughts that Keep You Stuck
What is CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)?
What Is CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)?
Let’s start here – because if you’ve heard the term “CBT” tossed around and thought, That sounds clinical and confusing, I get it. At its core, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is a simple but powerful idea:
Your thoughts shape how you feel and act.
Change your thoughts – and you change your life.
It’s not about “thinking happy thoughts.” It’s about recognizing that voice in your head that’s constantly whispering, You’re messing this up, You can’t handle this, or You’re not good enough – and learning to respond with compassion and clarity instead of fear or self-judgment.
CBT helps you press pause on the spiral, understand the “why” behind it, and slowly – but powerfully – rebuild a different way of thinking, feeling, and responding.
The Thoughts that Keep You Stuck
Here’s what our therapists hear all the time in therapy:
– “My brain won’t shut off.”
– “I overanalyze everything – even texting back.”
– “I’m exhausted from constantly second-guessing myself.”
– “I can’t enjoy the moment because I’m always bracing for something to go wrong.”
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And you’re not broken.
Those thoughts you can’t seem to quiet?
They probably served a purpose once. Maybe they helped you stay safe, succeed, fit in, or avoid conflict. But now? They’re likely keeping you anxious, disconnected, and overwhelmed.
How CBT Helps You Heal
CBT helps you make sense of the patterns in your thoughts so you can shift them – with practice, not pressure.
While working with one of our therapists, together you will learn how to:
– Identify the unhelpful thoughts running in the background
– Understand the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
– Respond to anxious or self-critical thinking with compassion, not shame
– Practice healthier thought patterns that feel supportive, not punishing
– Make intentional choices instead of reactive ones
You will stop feeling like a hostage to your inner critic – and start building trust in your own inner voice.
CBT is More than Just Positive Thinking
This isn’t about slapping affirmations on top of trauma or ignoring pain. At Empowering Optimism Therapy, we blend CBT with:
– Mindfulness, to help you become aware of your thoughts in real time
– Somatic therapy, to reconnect with what your body is trying to say
– Inner child work, to gently heal the root of your beliefs – not just the symptoms
This is trauma-informed CBT that honors the full picture of who you are and what you’ve been through.
You Don’t Have to Believe Every Thought
Let that one sink in for a second.
Just because your brain says:
“You’re failing.”
“You’re too much.”
“You’re not doing enough.”
doesn’t mean it’s true.
CBT teaches you how to challenge those thoughts – not by fighting them, but by getting curious. By noticing when they show up. By asking where they came from. And by practicing kinder, more grounded responses.
A Real Life Example
One of our clients here at Empowering Optimism Therapy came in convinced she was “lazy and unmotivated.” She’d been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and guilty about not doing more – even though she was juggling work, caregiving, and recovering from a breakup.
Through CBT, we traced that belief back to childhood messages about achievement and “earning rest.” We challenged the story. We rewrote the narrative. And little by little, she stopped seeing rest as failure – and started seeing it as care.
That’s the power of this work.
CBT With Empowering Optimism
What It Looks Like:
In our online therapy sessions (available across Michigan), we’ll move at your pace.
We might explore:
– Thought logs or reflection prompts (no rigid homework unless you want it)
– Somatic check-ins to notice how your body is responding
– Tools for managing anxiety in the moment – breathwork, grounding, visualization
– Patterns from childhood or trauma that shaped your inner dialogue
Each session is a safe space to explore without judgment and grow without force.
Is CBT Right For Me?
CBT may be especially helpful if you:
– Struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, or overthinking
– Want to change behaviors but feel stuck in loops
– Feel like your thoughts run the show – and not in a good way
– Are curious about how your past shaped your inner dialogue
– Are open to reflection, insight, and emotional healing
You don’t need to be “ready” or have all the answers. Just willing to explore with support.
Ready to Quiet the Chaos?
We know what it’s like to feel like your brain is a constant noise machine. We also know what it’s like to finally feel safe in your own mind.
That’s the journey we take with CBT.
If you’re feeling stuck in overthinking, self-doubt, or anxiety – you don’t have to stay there.
Together, we’ll find a path forward – one thought at a time.