Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, also known as CBT, aims to improve the overall mental health of an individual by focusing on the person’s thoughts and behavior and how they can be changed for the better. It can be a great way to develop happy, healthy habits that can help to improve mental health. To get involved, here are five activities that could add Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to your journey towards better mental health.

Mindful Meditation

At the pace that everything is moving at in the world, it can be a lot for an individual to deal with. One of the first steps of CBT in California is to find a way to keep yourself grounded. The best way to do this is to engage in mindfulness meditation. It puts you in touch with your emotions and thoughts so that you can analyze from a more logical mindset than an emotional one. It can help you to concentrate and focus on the present, boost mental clarity, and eliminate negative thoughts.

Gradual Exposure

Depending on the state of a person’s mental health, gradual exposure to a triggering event or item can help a person reduce their anxiety and fear. This should be done carefully, of course, so as not to traumatize the individual. This is done with the individual’s consent, of course, as they are exposed to more and more of the triggers as time goes by.

Worry Journaling

Journaling forces the mind to slow down and focus on the words that are being placed on the page. By writing down your thoughts, you’re given the opportunity to analyze them in a more calculating faction rather than letting your emotions run away with you. A person can write down thoughts that are worrying them but they can also write down positive thoughts as well to counterbalance all the negativity.

Practicing Self-Care

Self-care isn’t something you have to do alone; it’s any activity that is generally considered positive for your mental health. This can include playing board games with other people, starting new hobbies together, or just having an uplifting conversation. Other forms of self-care you can do alone involve reading a good book, soaking in a nice warm bath, or just going for a walk.

Skills Training

People are capable of learning new things all the time; in CBT, they can learn new communication, social, and psychological skills that they can employ in the future to keep their mental health positive. They can learn to be more kind to themselves or engage in self-talk to steer their thoughts away from negative areas.

Any of these activities can help a person to thrive mentally, especially if they have a supportive environment in place to help them out. Although these are just a few of the activities you could add to your life to engage in some CBT, it’s a great start to creating an environment where you can start to heal again. Speak with your mental health professional if you’d like to learn more.