How does Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) work?

My approach to therapy is relational and insight-oriented rather than behaviorally oriented. I believe behavioral shifts come when you're emotionally ready for them and feel safe enough to make changes.

Who am I really? How do I have better relationships? What’s the point of life? Is something wrong with me? Where do I belong? Can I heal? Are you asking yourself these questions? Are you ready to find some answers? Let’s co-create a space where you can find your internal compass, release your burdens (personal, intergenerational, cultural) and figure out what real change looks like. I’m here to help you embrace the intricate beauty and messiness of who you are. I bring to sessions boundless curiosity, caring challenges, and commitment to building trust at your own pace, all while keeping the focus on you. I am a trauma therapist at my core, and work a lot with folks who are navigating alternative sexualities and relationship styles (kink/BDSM, polyamory, ace, aro, you name it), living with chronic illness or disability, and exploring their gender (which is for cisgender folks too!). My approach is integrative in the sense that we will attend to your emotional, intellectual, and embodied ways of being. Are you ready to make meaning of your life in a way that integrates all of your experiences? Being witnessed in our whole truth can offer deep healing. I hope our work together will catalyze internal liberation, strengthening our shared path toward collective liberation.

I love CBT! It is the basis of my therapeutic technique. I find that CBT is how I work through my own struggles.

Hi! I am a Christian Counselor. I went to graduate school at Grace College and Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana. I have worked private practice, in a school setting as a Behavior Specialist, and at a Domestic Violence Shelter. I love doing assessments and working with trauma. 

I have attended several professional development trainings including CBT.

Licensed Professional Counselor

I have a history of using CBT in sessions.

Providing Only Telehealth Therapy (Video- therapy only) Hello and congratulations on taking the first step towards change and taking care of your emotional well-being. I know that balancing higher education, work, family, and relationships can be challenging often times resulting in self- neglect and/or poor work/life balance. I am here to assist you with recognizing signs that lead to destructive behaviors and developing self-control over your thoughts and actions. I understand that making the decision to seek mental health services can be overwhelming, so I wanted to provide an opportunity to schedule a brief consultation telephonically to allow you the opportunity to ask questions regarding the therapeutic process. I look forward to assisting you with achieving your goals, whether it be providing support and guidance through a challenging situation or providing a clear road map. We are here to assist and look forward to meeting with you. I am currently offering evening sessions. Population Served: Adults

I love CBT! I find it personally and professionally useful. I frequently incorporate CBT into treatment planning. It is a wonderful modality for building coping skills. I often talk about "controlling the controllables," such as our automatic negative thoughts and our use of coping skills. However, as a systemic therapist, I know it is undeniable that FAR more than our thoughts impact our mental health! Our relationships, family histories, racism, gender, sexuality, trauma history, finances, access to healthcare, and real-world stressors such as the pandemic impact our mental health. For this reason, I also incorporate contextual therapy and narrative therapy as I find these modalities helpful for promoting deep, meaningful, transformative healing.

Welcome. Are you struggling to set boundaries? Do you find yourself pouring far more into relationships than you receive? Do you find yourself drained, exhausted, and perhaps even resentful towards your loved ones? Our relationships can have a profound effect on our mental health, and our mental health and upbringing often impact how we behave in relationships. I love working with people with anxiety, social anxiety, complex trauma, or depression on improving relationships with themselves and others. And before I was a therapist, I was a birth doula, so I especially love working with pregnant and postpartum people.

I typically work from the CBT framework.  Thought stopping and reframing are useful for managing anxiety and depression.  Coupled with meditation/exercise, and other techniques, many clients experience relief of symptoms. 

I seek to provide the highest quality counseling services in an affordable, Christian environment. I believe that Christ is the center of healing and strive to glorify Him in all that I do. I have extensive experience working with recovery from substance abuse, PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, and BiPolar Disorders. Through collaboration with churches in our community, I am the most affordable private pay option in the Chattahoochee Valley. I blend Christian principles and proven counseling techniques together to provide an atmosphere that encourages true healing and clear way forward. I seek to share the love of Christ with all who come into my counseling office and trust Jesus to provide healing in His way and His time. I believe in redemption and new beginnings for all people.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a core therapy. The premise is such that it identifies our thoughts and how they influence our behaviors. I have used this therapy model since the onset of my career and find that it is an approach that most can understand easily and articulate movement toward their desired change.

My core values shape my approach to therapy by influencing how I live my life daily. I believe it’s important to live a life outwardly that is congruent with who you are when no one else is looking. My hope is that my clients feel a genuineness that creates a sense of safety and comfort in therapy sessions. Overall, I believe the core characteristics of the heart are what fuels lasting change. The attainment of knowledge, embodiment of faith, and willingness to engage in new experiences add to this foundation.

CBT looks at the root of the problem as being in our thinking. As he thinks in his heart, so he is (proverbs 23:7). It's ancient wisdom to work on the internal dialogue that is inside our heads. The one that no one else can hear, but affects not only what we do but also our mood. CBT's focus is getting to the core of our belief systems, those words spoken over us, the ones we believed from circumstances around us, even the ones we have absorbed from culture. They may not all be bad, but it's important that we know which ones are and which ones we need to kick to the curb and replace with healthy and helpful thoughts. That's the goal, minding our mind and being aware what we're telling ourselves, taking responsibility for our thoughts and improving them to fit a true view.

After a prolonged period of struggle, you're prepared to get the help you need. How can one, however, locate a therapist in Minnesota that they can truly rely on? Trust is a major key, along with clicking with your therapist, in order for therapy to work. Hi, my name is Diane Cerven, and I became a Licensed therapist in Minnesota because I saw desperation for further assistance and pain wherever I looked. I enrolled in 2002 in a master’s program in Counseling as I started working with people with anxiety and marital issues. I realized as I was going through that program so many people need help in their marriages and within themselves. Even to the point that many people don’t realize they have anxiety. I've gotten advanced training in marriage counseling, especially with communication. These are not sessions that you argue for an hour, stir things up, and try to put the pieces back together until the next session. I am very skills and solution focused. The same for anxiety counseling. I keep on top of the latest ways to help people best reduce or even eliminate their anxiety. If you want freedom from anxiety, we’ll walk that journey together. I have the skills and tactics that truly work, regardless of your personality—whether you are talkative, strong and silent, or whatever life events you have experienced. In addition, I'll either alter the course or recommend you somewhere if what we do doesn't work. Beyond anything else, I want you to truly heal, go forward, and lead a happy, fulfilled life. If you want to move forward in your journey by decreasing anxiety or improve your marriage, I’m here to help. It’s time for a compassionate ear, big heart, and the know how to get you to your best self. I also offer Christian counseling for those who want it. All sessions are online for your convenience. When calling our office please ask to have sessions with Diane.

CBT is challenging the client by focusing on how their beliefs influence their emotions and actions. Help is providing the client with the education, tools and encouragement to practice the skills needed to reduce the symptoms they are experiencing. Clients should know it is my job to motivate, educate and assist with whatever issues they are dealing with. You will not be in counseling forever but for right now to reduce and/ or cease the symptoms you are experiencing and have the tools ready to use that are right for you when/ if the symptoms reoccur. 

Lizette is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been helping individuals, children and families for 19 years. She earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a Masters degree of Science in Counseling. She has clinical experience with individual and family sessions, conducting groups, and working as a Clinical Director. Her philosophy is helping teach families and children ways to enrich their abilities and help them thrive. Lizette’s first step is to help de-mystify psychological terms in order for everyone to gain a better understanding of what is going on. The work begins when skills are introduced in order to increase the use of positive emotional management. Let’s face it – change is hard, when trying to stop or start something new everything takes time, but it can be done with clinical help and support. She utilizes a variety of tools that can help in decreasing problematic symptoms to include Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychoeducation, Grounding Techniques and the list goes on. Everything will be openly communicated and tailored to your individual needs in order to make sure the treatment plan is a good fit.

I utilize CBT for many of the presenting issues.  Many clients are unaware of their negative self-talk which comes out in depression and/or anxiety.  Reframing the negative self-talk can result in a more positive outlook. 

I offer a unique style—a blend of insight-oriented, practical problem solving and cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients achieve their goals.