About cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, goal-oriented approach that focuses on the connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Browse therapists who list CBT among their approaches below to read profiles, compare approaches, credentials, languages and experience.
What to compare in entries
| Credentials | A US state licence, or membership of a professional body such as BACP or NCPS. They are different kinds of thing; each profile shows what was supplied. |
|---|---|
| Focus | Whether cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt) is listed as a main focus or among the wider list of areas. Entries show both. |
| Way of working | The approaches named on the entry. Two people working with the same concern can describe very different sessions. |
| Time in practice | Years in practice, as supplied. A fact to weigh, not a ranking. |
| Language | The languages sessions can be held in, where that matters to you. |
Common questions
How were these entries chosen?
Everyone listed on this page names Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) among the approaches they told the platform they use. They are not ranked, rated or endorsed by this directory, and the order is not a recommendation.
Do I need a referral to start?
No. You can contact a therapist through their entry directly. A GP referral is not required for independent online therapy.
What if the first therapist is not right?
Changing therapist is normal and expected, and can be done at any point. One session is a small sample of how someone works.
Entries for cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt)
Savithri (Savi) Jayaweera, NCPS
Ref 151058
Compassionate counsellor for complex life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Hindi, Sinhala
View listingAngela Teasdale, NCPS
Ref 119622
Supportive counsellor focusing on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingEleanor Dillon, NCPS
Ref 236009
Compassionate counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Parenting, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJames French, BACP
Ref 203032
Practical support for anxiety and life transitions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDr. Paula Alvarez, LCSW
Ref 29756
Compassionate clinical social worker with practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Anger Languages: English
View listingTomasz Konieczny, BACP, NCPS
Ref 199992
Practical, compassionate online counselling
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Anger Languages: English, Polish
View listingMargaret Johnston, LMHC
Ref 62092
Calm listening that helps you move forward
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingClement West, BACP
Ref 167549
Gentle, practical support for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingDavid Potts, LCSW
Ref 23255
Practical, compassionate therapy for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingNicola Claydon, NCPS
Ref 183763
Calm, practical support for complex life issues
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues Languages: English
View listingPamela Benoit, NCPS, BACP
Ref 180577
Compassionate practical psychotherapy
Works with: Relationship, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingRichard Gordon-Smith , NCPS
Ref 120083
Straightforward, experienced counsellor for complex issues
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Parenting Languages: English
View listingAnnette OBryant, LPC
Ref 77726
Compassionate counselor focused on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Parenting Languages: English
View listingCaroline Woodford, BACP
Ref 203033
Person-centred counselling with practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Eating Languages: English
View listingDanielle Horn, LMSW
Ref 272733
Focused therapy that digs to the root
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJemma Heath, NCPS
Ref 197911
Support for stress, relationships and confidence
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingKizzie Wells-Daniels, LPC
Ref 67515
Therapist for stress, parenting, and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Parenting, Anger Languages: English
View listingJoanne Rothery, NCPS
Ref 179003
Compassionate counsellor for stress and trauma
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDr. Heather Clark, LPC
Ref 126027
Calm-focused therapy with practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJennifer Lee Sylvester, LCSW
Ref 116075
Experienced LCSW offering respectful, practical care
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingSara Lowe, LPC
Ref 104527
Practical, compassionate therapy for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression Languages: English
View listingFrank Centonze, LPC
Ref 297421
Direct, practical counseling for emotional recovery
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingLauren Anzelone, LCSW
Ref 70436
Supportive LCSW guiding practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Anger, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJudith Ramsay, BACP
Ref 135275
Counselling that focuses on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingFaryal Choudry, LCSW
Ref 266995
Compassionate guidance for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingSherry Ramsey Hansen, LPC
Ref 352558
Collaborative counselor focused on practical progress
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJade Round, BACP
Ref 180505
Practical, person-focused therapy for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingAdrian Jackson, BACP
Ref 271038
Compassionate counsellor using practical, person-focused methods
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Relationship Languages: English
View listingDestiny York, LPC
Ref 340789
Compassionate, practical counseling for life changes
Works with: Addictions, LGBT, Relationship Languages: English
View listingAnjanette Morton, LMHC
Ref 207471
Calm, practical support for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJoshua Plantz, LMHC
Ref 10378
Practical, goal-focused counseling for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingMichael Witham, LPC
Ref 56161
Practical, person-focused counseling for daily struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Anger Languages: English
View listingLisa Peter, LCSW, LIMHP
Ref 288708
Practical skills for anxiety and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingRev. Catherine Bogue, LCSW
Ref 168255
Compassionate guidance for life’s hard changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDianna Wheeler, LPC
Ref 354614
Practical support for healing and stronger coping skills
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJohn Swearengin, LPC
Ref 93490
Practical support for stress, addiction, and mood
Works with: Addictions, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingAngela Jakovac, AHPRA
Ref 241706
Practical, experienced counsellor for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Self esteem Languages: English, Croatian
View listingMegan Warner, BACP
Ref 241754
Short-term practical counselling and coaching
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingClaudia Santiago, LCSW
Ref 149793
Practical, collaborative therapy for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English, Spanish
View listingDr. Yael Banai, LPC
Ref 120836
Experienced counselor with a calm style
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Career, Depression Languages: English
View listingRobert Skuy, LCSW
Ref 53066
Practical, compassionate therapy for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingAndrea Antrobus, BACP
Ref 121857
Warm counsellor blending practical therapy and listening
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingMaria Wilson, LCSW
Ref 138055
Understanding, practical support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingVivian Fleming, LPCC
Ref 88191
Practical support for trauma and mood challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingDr. Robert Nolan, LMHC
Ref 15781
Steady, practical counseling for real-life struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Bipolar Languages: English
View listingJulie Fraser, BACP
Ref 160259
Practical support for stress and trauma
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Parenting Languages: English
View listingColette Mattos, BACP
Ref 138095
Relationship and self-esteem focused counsellor
Works with: Relationship, Family, Parenting Languages: English
View listingMore about cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt)
Understanding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Its Principles
What CBT emphasizes
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a practical approach that centers on how your thoughts, emotions and behaviors interact. At its core, CBT suggests that patterns of thinking influence how you feel and act, and that by identifying and adjusting unhelpful thought patterns you can change emotional responses and behaviors. Sessions tend to emphasize present-day problems and concrete strategies rather than lengthy exploration of distant past events. This orientation makes CBT focused and often skills-based, with the therapist and you collaborating to set goals and test new ways of thinking and behaving.
Common techniques and framework
In CBT you will encounter techniques such as cognitive restructuring, behavioral experiments, exposure for certain fears and activity scheduling to increase engagement in valued activities. The approach often uses homework between sessions to practice skills and gather evidence to challenge unhelpful beliefs. While CBT has structured elements, therapists vary in how they apply them depending on your needs, preferences and cultural context. The flexible, problem-solving nature of CBT allows it to be adapted to many different concerns while maintaining a clear focus on measurable changes.
Issues and Concerns CBT Is Commonly Used For
Range of applications
CBT is commonly used to address a broad range of emotional and behavioral concerns. People seek CBT for persistent worry and anxiety, mood difficulties such as depressive symptoms, patterns of social avoidance and stress-related concerns. It is also used to address phobias, panic symptoms, obsessive thoughts and behaviors, sleep problems and issues with anger or interpersonal conflict. Because CBT emphasizes skill-building, it is often applied where you want practical tools to manage symptoms and reduce interference in daily life.
When CBT may be part of broader care
For some concerns, CBT is one component of a broader care plan. For example, it may be integrated with medication management under the guidance of a prescribing professional, or combined with other therapeutic approaches to address complex or long-standing difficulties. When seeking a therapist who lists CBT among their approaches, you can look at how they describe their methods and whether they combine CBT techniques with other strategies that match your needs. This helps you set realistic expectations about what sessions will emphasize and how progress may be measured.
What a Typical CBT Session Looks Like
Structure and pacing
CBT sessions often follow a predictable structure that helps you and the therapist make steady progress. A session typically begins with a brief check-in about how you have been since the last appointment, including any successes or difficulties with homework. You and the therapist then focus on a specific agenda item - a situation you want to understand better or a skill you want to practice. Time is usually set aside to summarize what was learned and to plan concrete practice tasks to try between sessions. This rhythm supports gradual skill development and keeps therapy oriented toward measurable change.
What you might do during and between sessions
During sessions you may practice identifying automatic thoughts, testing the evidence for a belief, or trying out behavioral experiments in imagination or role-play. Therapists often introduce short exercises to try in session and refine them before you use them in daily life. Between sessions you may be asked to keep a record of moods and thoughts, try a new behavior and note results, or carry out exposure exercises if addressing a fear. These between-session tasks are an integral part of CBT because they translate in-session learning into real-world experience.
How CBT Differs from Other Approaches
Focus on thoughts and behaviors
CBT differs from some other therapeutic approaches in its emphasis on the interaction of thinking, feeling and acting, and its orientation toward present-day problems and skills. While psychodynamic therapies may emphasize understanding historical patterns and unconscious processes, CBT tends to prioritize practical strategies for changing current patterns. Other approaches may center on emotion processing or relational dynamics; CBT remains distinct in its analytic approach to thoughts and its consistent use of behavioral experiments and homework.
Flexibility and integration
Although CBT has a structured backbone, many therapists integrate CBT techniques with elements from other modalities to better match your personal needs. For example, a therapist might combine CBT strategies with approaches that focus on meaning, acceptance or interpersonal patterns. When you review therapist profiles, noting how CBT is described in relation to other approaches can help you understand the likely balance of structure and exploration in sessions. This allows you to choose someone whose style aligns with how you prefer to work.
Who Benefits from CBT and How to Find the Right Therapist
Who tends to respond well to CBT
CBT can be a helpful fit if you are looking for a practical, skills-focused method to address specific challenges. If you prefer goal-oriented work, concrete strategies you can apply between sessions and measurable ways to track progress, CBT may appeal to you. It can work well for people who want an active partnership with their therapist and are willing to engage in exercises or homework. However, personal preference matters - some people prefer approaches that place greater emphasis on exploring emotions or relationships, so reflecting on your style is a useful first step.
How to evaluate therapist profiles
When searching for a therapist who lists CBT among their approaches, consider several practical elements in profiles. Read how therapists describe their use of CBT and whether they mention specific techniques that resonate with you. Look for information about credentials, languages spoken, areas of focus and experience with issues similar to yours. Pay attention to the therapist's description of their therapeutic style - whether they emphasize collaboration, structured skill-building or flexibility - and choose profiles where the approach and tone align with what you are seeking. If reading profiles leaves questions, many therapists include introductory information that clarifies how they blend CBT with other methods.
Making a fit with your needs
Finding the right match often involves thinking about logistical and personal factors. Consider what matters most to you beyond approach - such as session format, language preferences and cultural background - and use those filters when exploring profiles. You may also reflect on your goals for therapy and how you prefer to work toward them. Taking time to read multiple profiles and considering how each therapist describes CBT in practice will help you identify professionals who align with your expectations and who can offer the kind of support you want.