Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a structured, goal-oriented form of therapy that helps you recognize the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so you can break free from unhelpful patterns that create anxiety and depression. CBT focuses on what is happening in your life right now and teaches practical skills you can use every day, both in and outside of session.

I offer CBT-informed in-person and virtual therapy for adults in the Iowa–Illinois Quad Cities region, including Bettendorf, Davenport, Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, and nearby communities.

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

CBT is based on the idea that it is not just events themselves, but how we interpret those events, that shapes how we feel and how we respond. By learning to notice and shift unhelpful thoughts, you can change your emotional experience and your behavior in meaningful ways.

Rather than simply talking about problems, CBT gives you concrete tools to understand your patterns, practice new skills, and create lasting change.

Issues CBT Can Help With

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is widely used and research-supported for many concerns, including:

• Depression and low mood

• Anxiety and excessive worry

• Panic attacks

• Phobias

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Substance-related concerns

• Chronic or persistent pain

• Disordered eating

• Anger and emotion regulation difficulties

If you are dealing with one or more of these challenges, CBT can be an effective way to better understand what is happening and begin to shift it.

How CBT Works

With CBT, you learn to identify and change the thoughts and beliefs that drive difficult emotions and behaviors. This process, sometimes called cognitive restructuring, happens through specific CBT strategies that we practice together and that you can continue using on your own.

Common CBT tools and techniques may include:

• Journaling to track thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so you can start to see patterns over time

• Challenging unhelpful or distorted thoughts and beliefs that keep you feeling stuck or overwhelmed

• Learning mindfulness skills and present-moment awareness to help you stay grounded instead of getting swept away by worry

• Engaging in behavior experiments and exposure exercises to gradually face feared situations and build confidence in your ability to cope

CBT sessions are typically structured and focused on your goals. We’ll decide together what to work on, check in about progress, and choose specific skills or strategies to practice between sessions so you can see steady movement over time.

CBT Counseling in the Quad Cities

I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy into individual counseling for adults throughout the Quad Cities area. CBT can be used on its own or alongside other approaches, depending on your needs and preferences.

If you or someone you care about may benefit from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, contact me today to schedule an appointment and learn how CBT-based counseling in the Quad Cities can help you move forward.