Cognitive behavior therapy, or CBT, sounds complex but is actually quite simple. It basically means that our thoughts, feelings and behaviors are all connected to each other and don’t just randomly appear. Our thoughts tell us how to feel, our feelings influence how we act, and then our actions play a big role in how we see the world and future thoughts we might have.

Once we learn to recognize our negative our worrisome thoughts when they appear, we can also learn to change the feelings we have about those thoughts and in turn change our behaviors. I love this therapy technique for children because the skills learned at a young age are useful for a lifetime! If you are interested in finding out more, reach out to me at terasherman@risetherapyswfl.com.

Parents can use solution focused techniques at home to celebrate small steps towards big goals. Notice when progress is made and acknowledge the effort. Encourage your child to imagine themselves achieving the big goal and brainstorm what small steps need to be taken to achieve it. Need help? I specialize in children’s therapy, am located in Fort Myers, FL and would love to work with you!