Treatment at NBI

The major form of psychotherapy practiced at NBI is called CBT, which is short for cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of treatment helps people make desired changes within agreed-upon periods through 1. Understanding the nature, interactions, and impacts of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and situations 2. Developing needed coping skills to forge happier and more fulfilling lives.

CBT focuses directly on what is happening at the present time and finding practical solutions. It is called an evidence-supported treatment because it is supported by empirical findings. There are more studies demonstrating the effectiveness of CBT in addressing psychological conditions and life challenges than for any other kind of therapy. CBT is often used in tandem with psychiatric medications to optimize outcomes for severe symptoms.

Today, several types of psychotherapies practiced at NBI fall under the CBT umbrella, including:

Cognitive Therapy (CT)

The signature method of CT is cognitive restructuring. This technique helps people identify faulty cognitions (thoughts) and reformulate them into more accurate ways of thinking. Ideally, this promotes engaging in more adaptive behaviors, including healthier lifestyle choices.

Exposure-Based Therapy

The purpose of exposure-based therapy is to help people overcome fears by confronting them as fully as possible while simultaneously refraining from avoidance behaviors. This type of behavior therapy is often used to treat anxiety-related conditions such as phobias, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  A form of this treatment called exposure and response prevention (ERP) is considered the front-line treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (ERP). Research suggests that discomfort associated with exposure-based therapy tends to be more manageable than many people anticipate and is quite likely to be outweighed by its benefits. Nonetheless, due to widespread misinformation some people continue to feel apprehensive about trying it. What an irony: fearful people fearing the very treatment that has the greatest chance of decreasing their fears!

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

This mindful approach is designed to help people navigate through difficult thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations that are presently causing them distress or problems in daily functioning by learning how to accept such experiences non-judgmentally. The idea in ACT is to create the space and energy people need to be guided by their enduring higher values rather than by the ephemeral and arbitrary nature of what passes through their consciousness, no matter how discomforting. And in doing so, they learn how to move ever-forward toward a life worth living.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT is a structured therapeutic approach that teaches people skills for emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. The goal in DBT is to find balance in a world and self in which many contradictory and negative forces exist. Originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder, DBT has been successfully applied to many other psychological conditions.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

MI is rooted in the concept that it is human nature to have ambivalence toward making changes, even when it is for the best. The MI process offers people the opportunity to engage in a non-pressured and collaborative conversation that explores this experience at their own pace. The goal is that by observing discrepancies between their present actions and higher goals, and with a spirit of self-determination, the person will find their own good reasons to make positive changes in their lives despite the inevitable presence of competing thoughts and feelings.

What Other Services Does NBI Offer?

Parenting Program

OCD and Related Disorders Program

Anxiety Disorders/Panic Program

EF (Executive Function)

Neuropsychological Testing

Dietary Guidance

CBA

Equine Assisted Therapy

Social Skills Program

School Refusal Program

Adult OCD Support Group