Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely researched approaches for treating anxiety and OCD. CBT is structured and skills-focused. It helps you understand the patterns that keep anxiety strong and practice new ways of responding to distressing thoughts, feelings, and situations. At Renewed Freedom Center, CBT is tailored to each individual and may incorporate Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) when appropriate, especially for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other anxiety disorders.

What CBT helps with

CBT can be helpful when anxiety or OCD is affecting your ability to function day to day, whether that shows up at work, at school, in relationships, or in your ability to do routine tasks. People often seek CBT when they feel stuck in cycles such as:

• Persistent worry that feels difficult to shut off
• Avoidance that keeps life smaller over time
• Panic symptoms and fear of those symptoms returning
• Intrusive thoughts that create distress or doubt
• Compulsions or rituals that temporarily reduce anxiety but reinforce OCD patterns

If you are still unsure what you are experiencing, a diagnostic evaluation can help clarify next steps.

How CBT works

CBT is built on a simple, practical idea: how you interpret situations and what you do next can shape how anxiety and OCD show up over time. Treatment is collaborative and skill-based, with a focus on applying strategies in real life between sessions.

Behavior Therapy

Behavior therapy focuses on changing the actions that keep anxiety and OCD going, such as avoidance, reassurance seeking, checking, or other anxiety-driven behaviors. With support and practice, you learn to respond differently, tolerate discomfort more effectively, and build confidence in situations that previously felt unmanageable.

Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive therapy focuses on identifying thinking patterns that intensify anxiety, such as catastrophizing, overestimating risk, or treating thoughts as facts. In CBT, you learn to evaluate thoughts more accurately and choose responses that align with your goals rather than fear.

CBT at RFC includes specialized, evidence-based methods

Depending on your needs, CBT may include additional approaches that strengthen treatment outcomes.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

ERP is a specialized type of CBT often used to treat OCD and certain anxiety disorders. ERP helps you face triggers in a step-by-step way while reducing compulsions and avoidance behaviors that keep the cycle going. Over time, this process can reduce fear and increase your sense of control in daily life.

Learn more about OCD and related concerns here: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Mindfulness training

Mindfulness skills support CBT by strengthening your ability to notice thoughts and feelings without getting pulled into them. This can be especially helpful when anxiety shows up as rumination, mental reviewing, or constant “what if” thinking. Mindfulness helps create space to respond intentionally rather than automatically.

Family Systems Strategic CBT (FS-SCBT)

Family Systems Strategic CBT is a distinguishing feature developed by Dr. Yip and integrated into RFC’s work with families. This approach focuses on improving boundaries, expectations, and communication so that loved ones can be supportive without unintentionally reinforcing anxiety or OCD patterns at home.

Learn more about Dr. Yip here: Dr. Jenny Yip

What to expect in CBT sessions

CBT is often more structured than traditional talk therapy. Sessions typically include a clear focus, skill-building, and a plan for practice between sessions. Your clinician may help you:

• Identify patterns and triggers
• Build a toolkit of coping and response strategies
• Practice skills in real-world situations
• Track progress in a practical way that supports your treatment goals

If you need a higher level of structure than weekly therapy, you may benefit from our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).

Who CBT is designed for

CBT at Renewed Freedom Center may be a fit for:

• Individuals
• Couples
• Families
• Children and adolescents

For many people, CBT is an effective starting point. For others, the best first step is a diagnostic evaluation to clarify the most appropriate plan.