Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has transformed the way mental health practitioners approach mental health treatment. By helping individuals understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, CBT therapists offer practical tools for lasting change.
At Desert Parkway Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, we use CBT to support individuals facing a wide range of mental health and substance use challenges. Whether you are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, or a co-occurring disorder, CBT can become a powerful part of your healing journey.
On this page, you’ll learn how CBT works, who it helps, and what to expect from therapy at our facility. If you’re exploring treatment options for yourself or a loved one, this guide is a great place to start.
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely used and researched approaches in modern mental health care. It originated in the 1960s and was specifically developed to support individuals struggling with depression.
Early CBT researchers discovered something groundbreaking: unhelpful thoughts could be challenged and changed, leading to genuine emotional relief. At the time, this was a major shift in therapeutic practice. Many earlier approaches focused on exploring the distant past, but CBT offered something more immediate. In other words, it gave people practical tools to recognize negative thinking patterns and respond to life with greater clarity and groundedness.
Over time, CBT has empowered people to understand how their thoughts impact their emotions, which in turn shape their behaviors. This awareness can be transformative. With consistent CBT treatment, individuals can interrupt destructive cycles in their minds and begin making choices that align with the lives they truly want to live.
The best part of it all? Cognitive behavioral therapy offers tools that can support long-term healing. Whether you’re seeking CBT for anxiety, addiction, PTSD, or another concern, the goal is not just symptom relief, but continual, lifelong change.
How Does CBT Work?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy works by helping you identify and shift unhelpful patterns in your mind that influence how you feel and behave. At its core, CBT is rooted in the understanding that our thoughts, emotions, and actions are deeply connected. When one changes, the others often follow.
During CBT sessions at Desert Parkway, you’ll work alongside a licensed and state-certified therapist to recognize automatic negative thoughts, examine how those thoughts contribute to emotional distress, and develop healthier, more constructive ways of thinking. This process is active and collaborative, meaning you’ll play an important role in your own healing.
Another great part of CBT is that it doesn’t just offer insights; it teaches skills. Whether you’re learning how to manage anxiety through breathing techniques, reframe intrusive thoughts tied to addiction or trauma, or build emotional regulation strategies to support recovery, the goal is to equip you with tools that work beyond the therapy room.
Over time, this approach helps reduce the intensity of symptoms, particularly in those with conditions like depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. In other words, CBT empowers you to become your own mental health advocate, with practical strategies you can apply every single day.
Who Can CBT Help?
CBT is a flexible, evidence-based approach that can benefit children, teens, and adults experiencing a wide range of mental health concerns. Many individuals come to CBT seeking support for anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, trauma, or patterns of negative thinking.
No matter your stage of healing, our therapists aim to personalize CBT to fit your specific needs. The goal is to offer support that feels relevant, practical, and empowering.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at Desert Parkway
At Desert Parkway Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, CBT plays an important role in our therapeutic approach across all levels of care, including inpatient treatment, Partial Hospitalization (PHP), and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP). Our patients benefit from CBT-informed sessions tailored to their needs, whether they’re experiencing anxiety, working through trauma, or addressing substance use. Our clinical team uses CBT principles in both individual and group settings to promote long-term healing.
What To Expect in a CBT Session
At Desert Parkway, CBT sessions are structured, collaborative, and focused on specific goals. Patients work with a licensed therapist to identify problematic thoughts, practice new perspectives, and take actionable steps between sessions. In a hospital setting, CBT may also include worksheets, skill-building activities, and guided discussions in both individual and group therapy.
Benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT helps patients gain self-awareness, reduce distress, and improve daily functioning. It’s a practical therapy that teaches people how to manage their symptoms, regulate emotions, and navigate everyday challenges. Many people find that CBT gives them a sense of agency and control during difficult periods of their lives.
Another benefit of CBT is that it can be a more immediate solution. Many mental health disorders can take a while to diagnose and accurately treat. CBT provides a great solution for the interim that will allow patients with any diagnosis to start practicing tools and experiencing relief.
Does CBT Work for All Mental Health Conditions?
CBT is a flexible, evidence-based therapy that supports many different diagnoses, but it is not one-size-fits-all. For some conditions, such as OCD, PTSD, eating disorders, personality disorders, psychosis, or schizophrenia, CBT may need to be adapted to be most effective.
For example, individuals with OCD often benefit from Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a specialized form of CBT designed specifically for obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The key is working with a therapist who understands how to personalize CBT tools based on your specific diagnoses and personal needs.
Can CBT Be Used With Other Types of Therapy?
While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is highly effective on its own, it’s often most powerful when paired with other therapeutic approaches. This is especially true for individuals with complex or co-occurring diagnoses that require a more comprehensive treatment plan.
CBT works well alongside medication management, group therapy, and other evidence-based modalities. While some therapies dive into relational dynamics or neurological healing, CBT offers a practical foundation by helping individuals build awareness of thought patterns and behaviors.
CBT is a flexible, collaborative tool that can fit into many different paths toward healing. No matter your diagnosis or treatment goals, our team will help determine the right mix of evidence-based therapies to support your recovery.
Finding a CBT Therapist Near You
If you’re in the Las Vegas area searching for “CBT therapy in Las Vegas” or “cognitive behavioral therapists near me,” Desert Parkway can help. Our licensed clinicians are experienced in using CBT with individuals across all age groups.
You don’t have to navigate the search for mental health treatment alone. Our admissions team can guide you to the right level of care. Feel free to reach out to us today!
How to Get Started
Whether you’re seeking CBT for addiction, anxiety, or trauma, our team is here to help. You can self-refer or be referred by a loved one or provider. Call us today to speak with our admissions team and learn more about treatment options that include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is CBT offered in Desert Parkway’s PHP or IOP programs?
Yes. CBT is a foundational component in our outpatient treatment options, including Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs.
Can CBT help with psychosis or schizophrenia?
Yes, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can support individuals living with psychosis or schizophrenia, especially when delivered by therapists trained in CBT for psychosis (CBTp). This adapted form of therapy focuses on helping individuals reframe distressing thoughts, manage unusual beliefs or experiences, and reduce the emotional distress tied to symptoms like paranoia, hallucinations, or delusions.
At Desert Parkway Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, our therapists are trained to adapt CBT for a wide range of diagnoses. If you or a loved one is living with psychosis or schizophrenia, we’ll work closely with you to ensure therapy is tailored to your needs, at a pace that feels safe and supportive.
How long does CBT take to work?
Many people begin to see improvements within a few weeks. However, the length of treatment varies depending on individual needs and whether CBT is used alongside other therapies.
Is CBT helpful for children and teens?
Yes. CBT is frequently used with children and adolescents to help with issues like anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and trauma. At Desert Parkway, our clinicians are trained to adapt CBT techniques to meet the developmental needs of younger patients in a way that feels safe and age-appropriate.
Is CBT used for substance use treatment?
Absolutely. CBT is one of the most effective therapies for substance use disorders. It helps individuals identify and change thought patterns that lead to relapse, learn coping skills for managing triggers, and build healthier behavioral habits that support long-term sobriety.
How is CBT different from other therapies?
Unlike therapies that primarily explore the past or focus on relationships, CBT is more structured and goal-oriented. It teaches practical tools to recognize and shift negative thought patterns in real time. While some therapies explore “why” you feel the way you do, CBT focuses on “how” to respond differently starting now.
