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Therapists answer…

How does Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) work?

Julie FosterJ

Julie Foster

LPC
Online TherapyAccepting New Clients
How does cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) work and how can it help?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps by looking at the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Sometimes when life feels overwhelming, our mind can fall into patterns like expecting the worst, being overly self-critical, or assuming things will never improve. CBT helps identify those patterns, gently challenge them, and replace them with more balanced and helpful ways of thinking. In therapy, CBT is not just about talking through problems, it is also about learning practical tools you can use in daily life. Together, we might work on managing anxious thoughts, improving coping skills, changing unhelpful habits, and building confidence in handling difficult situations. CBT can help with concerns like anxiety, stress, depression, low self-esteem, and major life transitions by giving you clear strategies to feel more in control and move forward with greater clarity.
With 20 years of executive leadership and 15 years in senior care, I know life’s transitions require both a strategist and a healer. Are you managing a life that looks successful on paper, but feels like a crisis behind the scenes? As an LPC, I specialize in the "Sandwich Generation" and midlife. Whether you are facing a career change, divorce, the empty nest, or the weight of caring for an aging parent while raising kids, I provide the executive-level clarity you need to rediscover yourself. My background is a fusion of business leadership and intensive mental health expertise. Having served as VP of Access and Director of Quality, alongside field-based crisis work and private practice, I handle complex challenges with professional precision. Now in full-time practice, I assist with: The Sandwich Struggle & Senior Care Identity, Career pivots, & Empty Nest Men's and Women's Issues Systemic Wellness We will partner to move you from managing life to truly leading it. Let’s get to work!
Stacy HuddlestonS

Stacy Huddleston

Licensed Clinical Social Worker / Therapist
Online & In-PersonAccepting New Clients
How does cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) work and how can it help?
CBT works by helping you notice and change unhelpful thought patterns that affect your emotions and behaviors. In sessions, we identify negative thoughts, challenge them, and practice healthier ways of thinking and coping—reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress while building long-term resilience.
My path to becoming a therapist is deeply personal. Over the years, I have experienced grief, loss, divorce, trauma, abuse, and major life transitions in my own journey. These experiences not only shaped my understanding of suffering but also deepened my heart for walking with others who find themselves in painful or uncertain seasons. I know firsthand how overwhelming life can feel, and I also see the hope and restoration that can come through faith, healing, and connection. In addition to my personal journey, I have spent many years as a social worker in the hospice field, supporting individuals and families through end-of-life care, loss, and the grieving process. These experiences deepened my calling to create a safe and compassionate space for people in their most vulnerable moments. They also strengthened my belief that healing is possible even in seasons of sorrow, especially when we lean on faith and community. Today, as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I specialize in supporting individuals through grief, loss, trauma, relationship struggles, and life transitions. My approach is warm, collaborative, and faith-centered—grounded in the belief that every person is created in God’s image and deeply loved by Him. At Connect & Restore Therapy, I blend evidence-based practices with Christian values, offering a safe space where you can process your story, rediscover your strength, and move forward with clarity and peace. It is my privilege to walk alongside you, not only as a therapist but also as someone who has walked through valleys and experienced God’s grace and renewal firsthand. Together, we can lean into hope and pursue the healing and restoration God desires for your life. As Scripture reminds us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
Teresa ArnoldT

Teresa Arnold

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

How does cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) work, and what do sessions look like?