Photo of Sarah Olson, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in 27511, NC
Sarah Olson
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Cary, NC 27511  (Online Only)
Sarah received her Master's degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University and is classically trained at the Master’s level in cognitive behavior therapy and solutions-focused therapy.
Sarah Olson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 12 years of experience helping infants, toddlers, children, teens, and adults who are faced with anxiety, depression, anger, poor coping skills, and family conflict issues. She helps clients to explore behavior patterns that may have been caused by past events. Sarah believes that being honest about how you feel is the most effective way to move forward in getting to where you want to go in life.
Sarah received her Master's degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University and is classically trained at the Master’s level in cognitive behavior therapy and solutions-focused therapy.
Sarah Olson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 12 years of experience helping infants, toddlers, children, teens, and adults who are faced with anxiety, depression, anger, poor coping skills, and family conflict issues. She helps clients to explore behavior patterns that may have been caused by past events. Sarah believes that being honest about how you feel is the most effective way to move forward in getting to where you want to go in life.
(984) 217-6562 View (984) 217-6562
Photo of Brianna Hicks, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in 27511, NC
Brianna Hicks
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, MA, LCMHC
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Cary, NC 27511
For the last ten years I have been helping clients from a variety of backgrounds to move in the direction of making a meaningful, fulfilling life. I have extensive experience working with folks struggling with disordered eating and body image distress, obsessive compulsive tendencies, anxiety, depression, trauma, and challenges related to gender and sexuality. As a person who identifies as queer herself, I am strongly committed to providing a safe, non-judgemental, and affirming space for all folks in the LGTBQ community and provide letters for folks looking to receiving gender affirming medical care.
For the last ten years I have been helping clients from a variety of backgrounds to move in the direction of making a meaningful, fulfilling life. I have extensive experience working with folks struggling with disordered eating and body image distress, obsessive compulsive tendencies, anxiety, depression, trauma, and challenges related to gender and sexuality. As a person who identifies as queer herself, I am strongly committed to providing a safe, non-judgemental, and affirming space for all folks in the LGTBQ community and provide letters for folks looking to receiving gender affirming medical care.
(919) 888-4511 View (919) 888-4511
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) Therapists

How does cognitive behavioral therapy work?

Cognitive behavioral therapy works by exploring how your thoughts affect your emotions and experiences. CBT helps you identify distortions in your thinking. For example, you may tend to jump to the worst case scenario catastrophizing or think in extremes (all-or-nothing thinking). A therapist can teach you how to push back against those thoughts to ultimately change your feelings and behavior for the better. They can also provide coping skills to better deal with stressors and challenges.

When do I know to seek treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy?

It’s reasonable to consider cognitive behavioral therapy if you struggle to manage difficult emotions or behaviors to such an extent that you are not getting the most out of life on a day-to-day basis. If you want a shorter term, concrete, skills-based approach, CBT is a great option. (By contrast, other types of therapy may devote more time to exploring your past and its effects.) The decision to seek CBT also depends on the condition you’re treating; CBT is an effective treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, and many other disorders.

How can I find a cognitive behavioral therapist for someone else?

To find a cognitive behavioral therapist for someone else, you may want to begin by discussing the person’s problem, researching cognitive behavioral therapy, and assessing whether the approach is the right fit. You could then reach out to a few cognitive behavioral therapists in this directory, explain the scenario, have a consultation with those available, and determine who could be a good match.

Why is CBT such a popular form of therapy?

CBT has become a popular form of therapy because it is effective and accessible. Robust research has demonstrated that CBT is an effective treatment for many mental health conditions. And CBT can be learned in relatively few sessions, which means that many people can engage in the process, afford it, and see results quickly. It involves learning concrete skills such as disputing unhelpful thoughts; these skills can also be taught and spread widely.