Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which has been shown through more than 300 well-controlled clinical trials and at least 269 meta-analyses to be an effective treatment for a wide range of conditions, is based on the notion that our thoughts influence our emotions and our actions. By changing our thought patterns, deeply held beliefs, and unhelpful behavioral habits, we can indirectly change our feelings and improve the quality of our lives. For example, if a person thought that they were no good, always destined to fail, they would likely feel depressed, and would probably avoid challenging situations. Conversely, if a person believed that they were capable of managing stressful situations, they would feel encouraged and would face challenges head-on. Cognitive therapy helps people to change their thought patterns and engage in new ways of acting more effectively in the world.
Contact Dr. Eric Garland
For more information about my part-time psychotherapy practice, click here or call 801-441-3160. You may also contact me via the contact form below.
Eric Garland, Ph.D., LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist in Utah, an Approved Consultant from the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, a professional member of the National Association of Social Workers, and a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice. He completed a fellowship in integrative medicine funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, where he conducted clinical research on mindfulness-oriented treatments for addiction, irritable bowel syndrome, and other stress- and pain-related conditions.