***We apologize, but due to high demand for CBT, we are currently not accepting any new patients at our Cherry Hill or Marlton locations. Dr. Edwards has limited availabiliy at this time. Please call for her current new patient status. Thank you. ***  Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)  is a short-term individualized and goal-oriented therapy that has been found effective for various disorders including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, severe mental illness, etc. Scientific evidence has provided support for CBT and found that it can lead to improvements in emotional state, daily functioning, and quality of life.    CBT proposes that unhelpful thoughts (which influence mood and behavior) are common among psychological disorders. For example, “what you think,” contributes to “how you feel,” and influences “what you do.” During therapy, automatic thoughts (thinking errors) are identified and challenged, strategies/coping skills are developed, and training in self-monitoring is provided. ​    Therapy is typically focused on the current situation and only places some emphasis on the past. While a person’s background is important in understanding the current problem(s), the focus of therapy is to move forward and develop problem-solving skills to better cope with the situation.    CBT is appropriate for children, adolescents, and adults. However, it is most beneficial for individual’s aged 8 and older with adequate insight into their difficulties. In addition, a patient’s level of motivation for treatment can influence the therapeutic process and should be discussed with their therapist.