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What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy, also called CBT, is a structured, nonjudgmental form of talk therapy. With CBT, Dr. McGuire will work with you to help you become more aware of your thinking patterns and how they may be affecting your perspective on life and leading to other issues. More specifically, CBT helps you look at and change the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and behavior and allows you to look at challenging situations in your life and respond in a more effective and healthy way. With the help of Dr. McGuire, you’ll be able to unlearn negative thoughts and behaviors and replace them with much healthier thinking patterns.
As for the effectiveness of CBT, the science continues to back up how well CBT works. Numerous studies have been done showing that this therapy approach can lead to a vast improvement in the lives of those who participate in it.
CBT can be used on its own to help with a wide variety of mental illnesses, but it can also be used in conjunction with medication too.
Patient
Testimonial
“I cannot recommend Dr. Colleen McGuire highly enough. She has been an incredible support in helping me manage my mental health, and her care has truly been life-changing. From the very beginning, she created a safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental space where I felt heard, valued, and understood.”
Conditions Treated by CBT
Cognitive behavioral therapy can be effective on a number of different mental health conditions and medical concerns, including the following:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Trouble sleeping/Insomnia
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Substance use disorders
- Bipolar disorder
What to Expect with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy can be different from client to client. To start off in your first few sessions, Dr. McGuire will ensure you are a good match for each other. She will go over her approach, what therapeutic approach she believes is best for you based on your time talking, what the goals you want to strive for with treatment, and how many therapy sessions you’ll be starting with. She will ask you a series of questions to get to know you and to better understand the exact issue.
If you find it difficult to open up about your feelings or what’s going on in your life, don’t worry! You will likely feel more comfortable sharing with the more sessions you attend.
During your sessions, Dr. McGuire will walk you through learning to recognize and challenge any distortions in your thinking and where they may be causing problems. She’ll also help you better understand your behavior, ways to problem-solve and cope with difficult situations, and how to develop more confidence in your own abilities. Dr. McGuire will also ask you to do homework between each session to help build on the skills and ideas you learn in therapy.
Schedule a Consultation
Discover the fulfilling life you can have with the help of CBT and Dr. McGuire. To learn more and get started, schedule a consultation with Cottonwood Psychiatry today. Call our Denver, CO office or message us via our online contact form.
Dr. Colleen McGuire
Dr. Colleen McGuire, DO, is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist with a background in Anthropology and Music from the University of New Mexico, pre-med studies in Denver, and a medical degree from Touro University in California.
She completed her residency at the University of Colorado, serving as Chief Resident, and has held key roles such as Attending Psychiatrist and Assistant Professor at Denver Health, as well as working in various inpatient, outpatient, and telepsychiatry settings.
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Dr. Colleen McGuire, DO, is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist with a holistic approach to mental health. She completed her medical training at Touro University and residency at the University of Colorado, where she served as Chief Resident. Specializing in trauma, midlife hormonal issues, and alternatives to medication, Dr. McGuire integrates therapies like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Licensed in multiple states, she is known for her empathetic, client-centered care and dedication to mentoring. Outside work, she enjoys piano, swimming, and spending time with animals.