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Los Altos | Mountain View - Los Altos | San Jose | Half Moon Bay

Therapy Modality

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Bay Area

When anxious thoughts feel louder than your life, CBT gives you practical, proven tools to quiet them. Our CBT-trained therapists help children, teens, and adults change the thought patterns that drive anxiety, low mood, and stuck habits — often in a matter of months, not years.

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You already know the thoughts aren't helping. They come anyway.

"I always expect things to go badly — even when they usually don't."

"I know my thoughts aren't rational, but I still believe them."

"My child gets stuck in worry loops and I don't know how to help."

If any of these feel familiar, CBT was built for exactly this — and it's one of the most researched, effective forms of therapy in the world.

WHAT CBT HELPS WITH

Proven support across a wide range of concerns

HOW IT WORKS

Four steps from stuck thoughts to real change


1

Notice

Learn to catch the automatic thoughts that fire before you even realize it.

2

Examine

Test those thoughts against reality — gently, with your therapist, not alone. 

3

Reframe

Build more accurate, more helpful ways of seeing the same situation. 

4

Practice

Small between-session exercises turn new thinking into lasting habits.

OUR DIFFERENCE

CBT for every age — from play-based to practical

Most practices offer CBT for adults. We adapt it for the whole family — the same evidence base, delivered the way each age can actually use it.

CBT for Children

CBT for Children

Worry, big feelings, and behavior challenges — taught through play, stories, and games so kids build coping skills without it feeling like "therapy." 

CBT for Teens

CBT for Teens

School pressure, social anxiety, perfectionism, low motivation — practical tools teens actually keep using after sessions end. 

CBT for Adults & Parents

CBT for Adults & Parents

Anxiety, depression, burnout, and the thought spirals of parenting — structured, goal-focused work that fits a busy life. 

WHAT TO EXPECT

Structured, collaborative, and goal-focused
  • Every session has a clear agenda — no aimless talking, no wasted time
  • You set the goals; your therapist brings the roadmap
  • Short practice exercises between sessions (journaling, thought records, mindfulness)
  • Typically 8–20 sessions — CBT is designed to be short-term
  • Available in-person at all four locations or online across California

Families across the Bay Area trust us

★★★★★

“[ Insert real anonymized client quote here — ideally one that mentions practical tools or a child/teen outcome. ]”

Google Review · Los Altos location

COMMON QUESTIONS

CBT, answered honestly

Is CBT just "positive thinking"?

No — CBT never asks you to pretend things are fine. It teaches you to examine thoughts for accuracy, not positivity. Sometimes the realistic thought is still hard — but it's workable in a way the distorted one wasn't. 

How many sessions will I need?

CBT is intentionally short-term. Most people work with us for 8–20 sessions, and you'll see measurable progress checkpoints along the way. 

Does CBT work for children?

Yes — with adaptation. Our child therapists blend CBT with play therapy so younger kids learn the same skills through stories, games, and art. 

How is CBT different from other therapy?

CBT is structured and present-focused: less "why did this happen," more "what keeps it going and how do we change it." Many clients combine it with EMDR or IFS for deeper work. 

What does it cost, and do you take insurance?

See our Rates page for current fees, superbill support, and the free 15-minute consultation where we'll answer this for your specific situation.