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CBT Center Blog

We often find ourselves repeating the same patterns over and over in relationships, so much so that it can sometimes feel like we’re dating or marrying the same person over and over. This is a common phenomenon, but there is a way to break these patterns, to have fulfilling relationships that reflect our deepest values....

Schemas are the mental frameworks that help us navigate the complex world around us. They are built from our cumulative experiences, starting from early childhood and continuously evolving throughout our lives. These schemas are essential for our survival; they allow us to process vast amounts of information rapidly by categorizing and interpreting new data based...

The excitement you feel when your social media post is “liked,” or otherwise validated, is due to the release of dopamine in your brain, which is also released during sex or a delicious meal. Increasingly, our brains are becoming conditioned and rewired to associate this boost of happiness with our online behaviors like social media,...

I’m frequently asked whether it’s ever OK to walk away from a fight. Absolutely, it’s essential. But the method you use to do so is crucial. In the midst of a heated argument or a high-stress situation, have you ever noticed how difficult it becomes to think clearly, make rational decisions, or even maintain a...

How do you tend to respond to a powerful urge? Are there certain experiences that show up more frequently for you? Are there particular experiences that you attempt to avoid? Let’s be proactive by getting curious and mindful of these urges and learn how urge surfing and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can help. What urges...

Individuals who attend therapy often explain that they struggle with “low self-esteem” and that they want to feel more confident. Society portrays self-esteem as a permanent state that can be acquired, but self-esteem is more of a process that is constantly shifting and changing just like the weather. Because self-esteem is not a permanent state...

Interpersonal schemas are basically mental frameworks or blueprints that we develop throughout our lives to make sense of our interactions with other people. They’re like ingrained patterns of thinking and feeling that influence how we perceive, interpret, and respond to social situations. For example, if we have a schema that says “people are generally trustworthy,”...

Values represent and define the kind of person you want to be and what is important to you. One strategy for starting to clarify your values is to imagine witnessing your own funeral...

We tend to place judgments and labels on certain physiological sensations that we experience....

Overcoming barriers so you can live a valued and meaningful life!...

Build Healthier Ways of Relating to Yourself and Others...

The wellness industry is now valued at roughly US$6.8 trillion globally, and retreats are one of its fastest-growing segments. But not every program advertised as a healing escape actually delivers meaningful psychological care....

CBT therapy for couples targets the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that keep partners stuck — then teaches skills you can use between sessions. Here is how cognitive behavioral couples work, who it helps, and where to find couples therapy in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Oakland....

EMDR Therapy in SF Are you curious about finding EMDR therapy in SF? Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy that helps people heal from the emotional distress caused by traumatic experiences. Whether you’re dealing with a single overwhelming event or years of accumulated stress, EMDR therapy works by helping...

What Is ADHD Masking? ADHD masking is when someone with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder deliberately hides, suppresses, or heavily compensates for their adhd symptoms to appear “typical” at school, work, and in relationships. Think of it like holding a beach ball underwater—you might manage it for a while, but it takes constant effort, and eventually,...