Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
in person for Lubbock, TX and virtually for all of Texas
CBT is one of the most effective and widely-researched forms of therapy available. It works by helping you understand the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors — and changing the patterns that are keeping you stuck.
Accepting new clients --- Most Insurances Accepted
IS THIS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Who Is CBT For?
CBT is one of the most versatile approaches in therapy. Research supports its effectiveness for a wide range of concerns. It may be right for you if:
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You notice patterns of negative thinking that you can't seem to shake
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Anxiety, worry, or fear is interfering with your daily life or limiting what you do
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You feel depressed, hopeless, or like things won't get better — and you want to challenge those beliefs
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You tend to catastrophize, assume the worst, or ruminate on problems
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You want a structured, goal-oriented approach — not open-ended talking
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You're dealing with a specific problem (a phobia, health anxiety, performance anxiety, OCD) and want targeted help
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You're interested in understanding how your mind works and developing practical tools
CBT is goal-oriented and time-limited — it gives you skills you can use long after therapy ends.
THE APPROACH
How CBT Works
CBT is based on a straightforward but powerful idea: how we think affects how we feel, and how we feel affects what we do. When our thoughts are distorted — overly negative, catastrophic, or self-critical — they generate emotions and behaviors that make our problems worse, not better. CBT helps you identify those thought patterns, evaluate them more accurately, and replace them with more realistic and helpful alternatives.
The work happens on two levels. At the cognitive level, you learn to catch automatic negative thoughts, examine the evidence for and against them, and develop more balanced ways of thinking. Common patterns targeted in CBT include catastrophizing ("this will be a disaster"), all-or-nothing thinking ("I always mess up"), mind reading ("they must think I'm incompetent"), and emotional reasoning ("I feel anxious, so something must be wrong"). At the behavioral level, you work on changing the actions — avoidance, withdrawal, safety behaviors — that maintain the problem. This often involves graduated exposure, activity scheduling, or behavioral experiments.
CBT is structured and collaborative. Sessions typically involve reviewing the week, working on specific skills or concepts, and setting between-session practice. The "homework" isn't busywork — it's where the real change happens, applying what you've learned to real situations in your life. CBT is highly adaptable: it's been specifically modified for depression, anxiety, OCD (as ERP), trauma (as TF-CBT and PE), eating disorders, chronic pain, insomnia, and more.
Evidence-Based Care
CBT has the largest evidence base of any psychotherapy — over 2,000 randomized controlled trials supporting its effectiveness across anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, eating disorders, and more.
50–80% of people who complete a course of CBT experience clinically significant improvement — often in 12–20 sessions.
THE PROCESS
What to Expect
Step 1: Reach Out
We'll match you with a CBT-trained therapist. Most clients are seen within 1–2 weeks of reaching out.
Step 2: Your First Session
Your therapist will work with you to identify the specific thought and behavior patterns that are maintaining your problem — building a shared understanding of what's driving your struggle.
Step 3: Start Making Progress
Through weekly sessions and between-session practice, you'll build skills that stick — ways of thinking and responding that you'll use long after therapy ends.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Can CBT be adapted for children and teenagers? -- Yes. CBT is one of the best-researched treatments for anxiety and depression in children and adolescents, with age-appropriate adaptations. For children, the work often involves parents as well. We offer CBT for clients across all ages at Flatland Counseling.
Can CBT help with depression? -- Yes — CBT is one of the most effective treatments for depression, with research support comparable to antidepressant medication for mild to moderate depression. It targets the negative thinking patterns and behavioral withdrawal that maintain depression, and helps clients rebuild activity and engagement.
Do I have to do homework between sessions? -- Between-session practice is a core part of CBT — and it's where much of the change happens. That said, it doesn't have to feel like homework. Your therapist will work with you to identify realistic practice activities that fit your life. Skipping it tends to slow progress, but your therapist will problem-solve with you if it's difficult.
How is CBT different from other types of therapy? -- CBT is more structured and skills-focused than many other approaches. Rather than spending time exploring the past or working through the therapeutic relationship, CBT focuses on specific current problems and teaches concrete techniques for addressing them. Sessions are typically agenda-driven, with clear goals and between-session practice. This makes CBT a good fit for people who want a goal-oriented, time-limited approach.
How many sessions of CBT will I need? -- For many specific problems — depression, anxiety, a single phobia, health anxiety — significant improvement is common in 12–20 sessions. More complex presentations or longstanding patterns may require longer. Your therapist will discuss a realistic timeline based on your specific situation.
Is CBT effective for anxiety? -- CBT is the gold-standard treatment for most anxiety disorders — generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, specific phobias, and health anxiety. The behavioral component (exposure) is particularly powerful for anxiety: it works by helping you gradually face what you've been avoiding, reducing the fear response over time.
Is CBT available via telehealth? -- Yes. CBT works very well via telehealth — the structured, skills-based nature of the approach translates naturally to an online format. We offer telehealth to clients anywhere in Texas.
Is CBT the right approach for trauma? -- CBT can be effective for trauma, particularly in its specialized forms — Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) for children and adolescents, and Prolonged Exposure (PE) for adults with PTSD. Standard CBT may also address trauma-related thoughts and beliefs. For complex or developmental trauma, EMDR is often incorporated as well. Your therapist will help determine the best approach for your specific trauma history.
How do I get started? You can reach out through our contact page or click the Get Started button to request an appointment. Taking that first step is often the hardest part — I'm glad you're here.
CONDITIONS WE TREAT
Issues We Help With Using CBT
CBT is one of the most versatile approaches in therapy. At Flatland Counseling, it forms the foundation of treatment for many of the concerns we work with.