COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT) EDMONTON
Evidence-based CBT for anxiety, panic, depression, overthinking, and stress—in Edmonton or online across Alberta
Are You Struggling with Anxiety, Stress, Low Mood, or Overthinking?
Constant worry, guilt, racing thoughts, low motivation, or feeling “stuck in your head” can take over your day. It can affect your sleep, energy, relationships, work, and even your ability to enjoy normal moments.
At Life Collective Counselling, our Edmonton therapists use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a practical, evidence-based approach that helps you understand unhelpful thought patterns, reduce overwhelm, and build new coping skills you can actually use in real life.
If you’re looking for CBT therapy in Edmonton, our team is here to support you — both in person and online across Alberta.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, goal-focused form of talk therapy that helps you understand how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected.
The core idea: sometimes our mind builds “default stories” like “I’m failing,” “I’m not safe,” “They’re going to leave,” or “Something bad is about to happen.” Those stories feel true in the body and can trigger anxiety, shame, withdrawal, or burnout.
How Does CBT Work?
CBT follows a practical step-by-step approach. With your Edmonton CBT therapist, you’ll work on:
Identifying unhelpful thought patterns that drive anxiety, panic, shame, or avoidance
Understanding the link between your thoughts (“I can’t handle this”), your emotions (fear, anger, guilt), and your reactions (shutting down, lashing out, procrastinating)
Building healthier coping strategies you can use in high-stress moments
Practicing new behavior patterns so you feel more capable, confident, and regulated
You’ll learn tools you can take home and apply in work stress, relationships, parenting, conflict, or moments of overwhelm — not just “in therapy.”
What Can CBT Help With?
Anxiety, Panic & Overthinking
Racing thoughts, constant worry, “worst-case thinking”
Panic attacks or feeling on edge all day
Social anxiety (“people are judging me”)
Health anxiety and “what if something is wrong?” loops
Work stress, burnout, perfectionism, pressure to “hold it all together”
Low Mood, Shame & Self-Worth
Feeling “not good enough,” guilty, or like a burden
Depression, low motivation, emotional numbness
Self-criticism that doesn’t turn off
Feeling tired of people-pleasing and resentment cycles
Postpartum mood changes, identity shifts after baby
Relationships, Boundaries & Triggers
Repeating the same fight in your relationship
Jealousy, fear of abandonment, fear they’ll leave
Saying “yes” when you want to say “no”
Anger that spikes fast and feels hard to control
Parenting stress and reacting in ways you don’t feel proud of
Trauma Recovery Support
Ongoing guilt, shame, or self-blame after difficult experiences
Feeling “on guard” or braced for conflict
Avoiding certain people, topics, or situations because they’re activating
Beliefs like “this is my fault,” “I’m broken,” or “I can’t trust anyone”
If you’re wondering, “Would CBT work for me?”, the answer is usually yes. Your therapist can help you understand whether CBT is a good fit, or if another approach (like EMDR or Emotionally Focused Therapy) might serve you better.
Is CBT Effective?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the most widely researched forms of therapy. It’s been shown to help reduce symptoms of anxiety, panic, depression, and stress, and to improve coping, communication, and emotion regulation.
Many clients begin noticing practical changes in how they respond to stress within the first few sessions — especially when they actively practice the tools between sessions.
CBT doesn’t erase “hard feelings.” It helps you stop being controlled by them.
For some clients, CBT is combined with other approaches like EMDR (for trauma and triggers) or Emotionally Focused Therapy (for relationship repair). Your therapist will guide you.
What to Expect in a CBT Session
At Life Collective Counselling, CBT is collaborative — not lecture-y. You and your therapist work together.
Your CBT session may include:
Talking about what’s been hardest for you this week (mood, stress, conflict, panic, parenting)
Exploring what thoughts and beliefs showed up in that moment
Noticing patterns (“every time I feel criticized, I shut down and call myself useless”)
Learning tools to interrupt that spiral in real time
Practicing new responses that feel safer, calmer, and more confident
Taking small, realistic homework strategies into daily life — not huge life overhauls overnight
Our goal is not to shame you for how you’ve been coping. Our goal is to give you more choice than “shut down or explode.”
Meet Our CBT Therapists in Edmonton
Our skilled CBT therapists are here to support you. Book an appointment today
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Erin Greenough
Registered Provisional Psychologist
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Kenzie Brinsmead
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Karl Merritt
Registered Psychologist
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Jayme Fath
Registered Provisional Psychologist
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Kristen Bassett-Berkiw
Registered Social Worker
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Sesu Moyo
Registered Social Worker
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Sujata Poudel
Registered Social Worker
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Vanessa Bernard-Murray
Clinical Counsellor
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Kirsten Brinks
Psychology Intern
Book Your CBT Session in Edmonton
Anxiety, overthinking, and self-criticism don’t have to run the show. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) gives you practical tools to calm your mind, interrupt negative loops, and feel more in control day to day. Small changes add up fast.