Find Clarity and Practical Tools with CBT
At Flourish Psychological Services in Calgary, we offer Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help people overcome anxiety, depression, stress, and many other challenges. CBT is a practical, results-oriented therapy that focuses on building skills to manage your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.
Our CBT therapists deliver personalized, evidence-based CBT, ensuring every client gets care tailored to their unique needs, with the support and respect they deserve. By working together in a safe, collaborative environment, our therapists help empower you with effective strategies that foster lasting progress and meaningful change. At Flourish Psychology, your well-being is always our top priority, and we are committed to supporting you every step of the way.
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based psychological treatment focused on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours that may contribute to emotional difficulties.
CBT is structured and goal-oriented, helping you recognize distorted thinking, understand the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and develop healthier coping strategies. CBT is proven to be effective for a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, phobias, stress, and more.
How Does CBT Work?
CBT is grounded in the idea that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours are interconnected. During therapy, your CBT therapist will work with you to uncover automatic thoughts and cognitive distortions contributing to distress. To support your progress, your therapist may provide:
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Practical exercises and homework assignments to help you practice new ways of thinking and behaving.
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Cognitive restructuring to help you identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns.
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Behavioural activation to encourage positive activities and routines.
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Exposure techniques to gradually reduce fear and avoidance.
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Skills training to enhance coping, problem-solving, and emotional regulation.
The ultimate goal is to empower you with tools for lasting resilience and mental well-being, helping you break free from unhelpful cycles and build meaningful change.
What to Expect During an CBT Session
Your first CBT session at Flourish Psychological Services begins with a collaborative assessment of your current concerns, goals, and the patterns affecting your daily life. Together with your therapist, you’ll outline a treatment plan and learn about the CBT process. In ongoing sessions, your therapist will guide you through exercises to challenge unhelpful beliefs, practice coping skills, and work on achievable goals. CBT sessions are structured yet flexible, designed to help you build practical skills and gain insight in a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space.
Who can benefit from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?
CBT is effective for individuals of all ages and backgrounds facing a variety of challenges, including (but not limited to) anxiety, depression, stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), PTSD, phobias, and relationship issues. It is especially helpful for those seeking practical strategies for lasting change.
How is CBT different from traditional talk therapy?
While traditional talk therapy may focus on exploring feelings and past experiences, CBT is structured, focused on the present, and involves learning actionable skills to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.
Calgary-Based CBT Specialists You Can Trust
Finding the right therapist is key for meaningful change. Our dedicated, highly trained therapists at Flourish Psychological Services are skilled in applying CBT for a range of mental health concerns. We offer both in-person and secure virtual sessions across Calgary and Alberta, providing flexible, client-centered care you can rely on.
CBT vs. Other Therapies
CBT stands out for its structured, skills-based approach and strong evidence base. Unlike Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which emphasizes accepting thoughts and values-driven action, or Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), which focuses on rapid trauma processing with eye movements, CBT directly targets patterns of thinking and behaviour that fuel emotional distress. CBT provides tools to reshape unhelpful thought processes and encourage behavioural change, differentiating it from more insight-focused or experiential therapies.
What Is The Difference?
1) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) vs. Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy hones in on the stories individuals construct about themselves and their experiences, and encourages clients to separate themselves from their problems by examining and reshaping the meaning of these experiences within their personal narratives. This approach fosters self-discovery and empowerment by helping individuals rewrite the stories they tell about their lives.
In contrast, CBT is a structured, skills-based therapy focused on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to emotional distress. In CBT, clients work collaboratively with their therapist to recognize cognitive distortions, challenge negative thoughts, and develop practical strategies to improve mood and daily functioning — often through exercises, worksheets, and homework assignments.
2) CBT vs. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
While CBT aims to reduce distress by restructuring unhelpful thoughts and modifying behaviour, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) takes a different approach. ACT focuses on helping clients accept difficult emotions and thoughts without trying to change or eliminate them. Instead, ACT encourages mindfulness techniques and emphasizes living in alignment with one’s core values.
CBT provides tools to actively challenge and replace negative thoughts, whereas ACT guides clients to observe their thoughts non-judgmentally and commit to meaningful action, even in the presence of emotional discomfort. Both approaches are evidence-based and highly effective, but the focus in CBT is on change, while ACT emphasizes acceptance and committed action.
Why Choose CBT for Mental Health Support?
At Flourish Psychological Services, we combine compassion with practical strategies to help you pinpoint and alter unhelpful thoughts and behaviours for lasting change.
With the right tools, strategy, and support, CBT can help you gain control over anxiety and mood, cultivate resilience, and build a healthier relationship with yourself and others. This practical therapy recognizes your ability to create positive change, offering personalized support every step of the way.
Scheduling an CBT Session in Calgary
Even if you’re new to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, booking a session is quick and easy. Just follow these simple steps to get started.
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15-Minute Consultation
Start by filling out our user-friendly online contact form, which will set you up with a free 15-minute consultation with a therapist of your choice. That’s where you’ll briefly share your personal concerns and what you hope to achieve. It also gives us the opportunity to make sure we’re a good fit for you, too.
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Choose Your Therapist
After your free consultation, take the time to reflect on your experience and decide if you feel comfortable and connected with the therapist you spoke with. If so, you can book your first therapy session. If not, we can try someone else, or recommend a different clinic if we feel we cannot provide you with what you need.
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Choose Appointment
Choose the format – in-person or online – that best suits your comfort level and circumstances. Our virtual sessions are always secure, confidential, and convenient, but if you aren't a fan of online and would prefer face-to-face interactions, we'll warmly welcome you for your appointment!