Services and Specialties
Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT)
Build clarity and confidence with practical tools that last.
At Catalyst Psychology, we offer evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you move forward, whether you’re struggling with anxiety, intrusive thoughts, insomnia, ADHD, or chronic stress. CBT is at the core of what we do because it works. Backed by decades of research, CBT helps you understand the patterns driving your distress and gives you practical tools designed to support meaningful change.
Feeling stuck? We’re here to help you move forward.
What Is CBT and How Can It Help You?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, evidence-based approach that helps you identify and change the thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress. At Catalyst Psychology, we use CBT to help you move beyond insight and into action—so you can build the skills that lead to real, lasting change. Whether you’re facing anxiety, ADHD, OCD, insomnia, or major life stressors, CBT offers proven strategies that can help.
CBT is flexible, proven, and designed to help you make meaningful progress—whether in our Newton office or online from anywhere in Massachusetts.
+Anxiety & Chronic Worry
Including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), with ACT integration to support long-term behavioral flexibility
+OCD & Intrusive Thoughts
Using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a specialized form of CBT, you’ll learn to face fears and resist compulsions—regaining mental clarity and control.
+ADHD & Executive Functioning
Improve focus, organization, and task follow-through. Our CBT-based interventions are practical and shame-free, tailored to how your brain works best.
+Insomnia
CBT-I is the most effective long-term treatment for chronic insomnia. We help you reset your sleep system and reduce the thoughts and behaviors that keep you up at night.
+Burnout & Life Transitions
Navigate stress, change, and overwhelm with clarity. CBT offers tools to help you realign with your goals and regain momentum.
What Makes Our CBT Approach Different
CBT at Catalyst is structured, collaborative, and results-oriented. Our sessions are tailored to your goals and designed to help you make real progress—not just gain insight, but apply it. Whether you’re joining us in person in Newton, MA or through secure telehealth across Massachusetts, we make evidence-based therapy accessible, personalized, and practical.
Use practical strategies outside sessions to reinforce habits and support change.
Know what you’re working on—and why—every step of the way.
Typical course: 15–30 sessions focused on your specific goals.
Gain new habits, not just insight, with real-world application and guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
How is CBT customized for anxiety, OCD, ADHD, insomnia, or burnout?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is tailored to each unique client’s needs and goals. For anxiety, CBT focuses on identifying and challenging anxious thoughts while gradually facing feared situations. For OCD, Catalyst uses Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to reduce compulsive behaviors and strengthen tolerance for uncertainty. For ADHD, CBT targets executive functioning skills like planning, focus, and time management, while emotion regulation strategies help clients feel more calm and confident. For insomnia, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) helps retrain sleep habits and reduce constant worries about rest. For burnout, therapy builds coping strategies, restores balance, and helps redefine goals to reignite motivation. In every case, CBT is goal-oriented and measurable, helping you make practical, lasting changes.
Is exposure therapy required and what if I’m nervous about it?
Exposure therapy, often called ERP, is used only when it’s appropriate for your goals. It helps people gradually face situations, thoughts, or sensations that cause anxiety, teaching the brain to respond with less fear. The process is collaborative, planned in advance, and done at a pace that feels safe. If you’re nervous about exposure therapy, that’s completely normal—most people start slow and gain confidence over time. The goal is to reduce avoidance behaviors and build resilience, not to overwhelm or surprise you.
Can CBT work if I’ve tried therapy before or felt stuck?
Many people find success with CBT after feeling stuck in other types of therapy. Unlike open-ended talk therapy, CBT is structured, practical, and focused on measurable outcomes. Each session has a clear purpose and builds toward specific goals. You’ll learn how to identify thought and behavior patterns, apply strategies between sessions, and track your progress. This structure helps you see tangible change and develop skills that last long after therapy ends.
What kind of homework comes with CBT and how much time will it take?
CBT often includes short, practical exercises designed to help you apply what you’re learning in therapy to everyday life. Homework might involve tracking thoughts, practicing coping skills, trying new behaviors, or keeping short logs such as sleep diaries or activity records. Most assignments take only a few minutes a day or a couple of short sessions each week. The goal is to make progress visible, reinforce learning, and help you build habits that create lasting change.
What’s the difference between CBT, ACT, and ERP and which will we use?
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is the foundation of our work—it’s an evidence-based approach that helps you understand and change patterns in thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) fall under the CBT umbrella. ACT emphasizes mindfulness and values-based action, while ERP focuses on gradually facing fears and reducing avoidance. We tailor the right mix of these methods to your specific goals so your therapy feels clear, structured, and effective.
Does telehealth CBT work as well as in-person?
Research shows that telehealth CBT is just as effective as in-person therapy for most people. Because CBT is structured and skills-based, it translates well to a secure video format. You can discuss challenges, review tools, and complete guided exercises the same way you would in an office. Many clients find that online therapy offers additional benefits, such as convenience and practicing coping strategies in their natural environment. What matters most is consistency, engagement, and a comfortable space to focus during sessions.