Specialities
NEW SKILLS TO DEAL WITH OLD PROBLEMS
Evidence-based therapy allows you to build a new toolkit of cognitive, behavioral, and mindfulness-based interventions to address a broad range of mental health challenges
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Stress ManagementStress can severely impact mental health, causing emotional and physical challenges. Chronic stress often leads to anxiety, depression, irritability, and overwhelm, making daily life harder. It can also result in fatigue, headaches, and sleep issues. Over time, ongoing stress can affect cognitive function, reduce coping abilities, and strain relationships, deepening emotional distress. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) effectively manages stress by helping you identify and change negative thought patterns. CBT teaches practical skills to recognize stress triggers and adopt healthier coping strategies, such as problem-solving, de-catastrophizing, and relaxation. Through structured sessions, you’ll learn to challenge unhelpful beliefs, creating a more balanced mindset. Using these techniques, you can build resilience, de-stress, and improve your overall well-being.
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Relationship ConflictRelationship conflict contributes to stress, anxiety, and depression, taking a toll on mental health. Persistent tension not only drains emotional energy, it may lead to physical symptoms such as sleep disturbances and headaches. Over time, unresolved conflict can impact overall well-being, making it harder to concentrate, stay motivated, and maintain a balanced, positive outlook on life. Individual therapy can be highly effective in addressing relationship conflict by offering a safe space to clarify relationship goals and explore constructive strategies for achieving them. If you are experiencing difficulties in your relationship, Dr. Levy will work with you to uncover the underlying issues and enhance your communication skills using simple but powerful communication techniques. Therapy can help reduce tension, encourage empathy, and rebuild trust, ultimately fostering better relationships and enhancing mental well-being.
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Depression & Mood DisordersDepression is marked by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can affect various aspects of life, including energy levels, sleep, appetite, and concentration, often making daily tasks feel overwhelming. Evidence-based therapy can help you rediscover joy and purpose. Dr. Levy uses proven methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to identify and shift negative thought patterns, helping you reclaim your mental well-being. With a compassionate, structured approach, therapy provides tools to manage and improve your mood, boost motivation, and support lasting recovery.
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Anxiety & WorryWhile we all worry at times, clinical anxiety is a mental health disorder characterized by intense, persistent worry or fear that interferes with daily life. Symptoms can include restlessness, difficulty concentrating, physical tension, and sleep disturbances, often occurring without an obvious cause. Clinical anxiety can take many forms, including: - excessive worrying - panic attacks - social anxiety - specific fears or phobias At Bay Area Cognitive therapy, Dr. Levy uses exposure therapy as a structured treatment for anxiety that helps clients gradually face and reduce fear associated with specific triggers. By repeatedly exposing someone to a feared object, situation, or thought in a controlled setting, exposure therapy enables us to experience anxiety without avoidance, gradually diminishing its intensity. This process helps reframe fear responses and build confidence, leading to long-term anxiety relief.
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)People with OCD experience intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that cause intense anxiety, leading them to engage in repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) to relieve the anxiety. This cycle can consume significant time and energy, affecting work, relationships, and daily life. The constant battle with obsessions and compulsions often leads to feelings of shame, frustration, and isolation, while avoidance behaviors can further limit social interactions. Ultimately, OCD can have a debilitating impact on mental health, making effective treatment and support essential for managing symptoms and improving quality of life. Dr. Levy uses Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, which is a highly effective treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) focused on reducing the anxiety associated with obsessive thoughts. ERP involves gradually exposing clients to their feared thoughts, images, or objects (exposure) while helping them refrain from engaging in compulsive behaviors (response prevention). By consistently practicing ERP techniques, clients can break the cycle of avoidance and compulsive behavior, reducing anxiety and improving functioning in daily life.
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Grief & LossIf you had a significant loss recently, grief and loss can lead to a range of emotional responses such as sadness, anger, guilt, and confusion. You may experience symptoms of depression and anxiety, find it challenging to concentrate, or lose interest in activities you once enjoyed. The grieving process can also disrupt sleep patterns, appetite, and overall functioning, making it difficult to cope with daily responsibilities. In some cases, unresolved grief can lead to complicated grief, which requires professional support to navigate effectively. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be a valuable tool if you are dealing with grief and loss by helping you process emotions and develop coping strategies. CBT focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns related to grief, such as feelings of guilt or hopelessness, and reframing these thoughts to promote healing. Through structured sessions, you can learn healthy ways to express feelings, set realistic expectations for your grief journey, and gradually re-engage with life and meaningful activities. Ultimately, CBT can help you find a sense of acceptance and allow you to honor your loved ones while moving forward.
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InsomniaCognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is a structured, evidence-based treatment that targets the "3P's" of chronic insomnia: predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors. It promotes healthier sleep by helping clients identify and challenge negative thoughts about sleep, such as the fear of not getting enough rest. CBT-I also encourages healthy sleep habits, like maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and creating a comfortable sleep environment. Techniques like stimulus control help clients associate their bed with sleep, while relaxation strategies reduce tension and anxiety. By combining these approaches, CBT-I restores natural sleep without medication, leading to long-term, sustainable improvements with no side effects.
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Work, Career & PurposeMany professionals find it challenging to feel fulfilled and purposeful in their careers, often feeling disconnected from their daily work. Many experience burnout, stress, or anxiety, particularly in high-demand roles where expectations feel overwhelming and personal values may clash with workplace goals. Others feel uncertain about their career direction or lack a clear sense of purpose, leading to stagnation and doubts about their professional paths. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be highly effective for addressing work-related stress, burnout, or lack of purpose by helping clients reframe negative thought patterns and develop practical coping strategies. If you can relate, CBT can support you in identifying and challenging unhelpful beliefs, such as perfectionism or fear of failure, which often contribute to workplace stress. Therapy also provides tools to approach career challenges with confidence and a renewed sense of purpose by setting achievable goals aligned with personal values, fostering a positive outlook, and building resilience.
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Trauma & PTSDTrauma can have a profound and lasting impact on mental health, often leading to conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Individuals who have experienced trauma may struggle with intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, emotional numbing, and difficulty maintaining relationships. They may also experience physical symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and heightened stress responses. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is an effective treatment for overcoming PTSD. Through 12 structured sessions, CPT helps individuals process and reframe traumatic experiences by targeting unhelpful beliefs about themselves and the world. Focusing on key areas such as safety, trust, power and control, esteem, and intimacy, CPT empowers clients to challenge negative thoughts and emotions associated with the trauma. The therapy also encourages clients to express their feelings, facilitating emotional processing and healing. By addressing both the cognitive and emotional impact of trauma, CPT can significantly reduce PTSD symptoms and improve overall quality of life.
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Chronic Disease ManagementChronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension can have a significant impact on mental health., The constant worry about health complications and the need for lifestyle changes can create feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. At the same time, the bidirectional relationship between chronic illness and mental health can create a vicious cycle, where poor mental health hinders disease management, leading to further physical decline and stress. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be an effective tool for managing chronic diseases by addressing both physical and mental health concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help manage chronic diseases by developing coping strategies and improving well-being. CBT helps identify and challenge negative thoughts, such as feelings of helplessness, and reframes them to promote a more positive outlook. It also teaches problem-solving, goal-setting, and stress management, empowering clients to take control of their health. CBT fosters resilience and emotional regulation, making it easier to cope with the emotional challenges of chronic illness.
Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches
Dr. Levy draws from a number of research validated clinical interventions that leverage cognitive and behavioral science.
TEAM-CBT
Cognitive & Behavioral Therapy
The TEAM-CBT approach, developed by Dr. David Burns, is a structured framework to deliver cognitive and behavioral therapy designed to address treatment barriers and promote lasting change. "TEAM" stands for four key components of the treatment: ​
1. Testing: In each session, we use brief assessments that allow us to track symptoms, measure progress and adjust strategies as needed.
2. Empathy: We start by building a strong therapeutic alliance through nonjudgmental listening and empathetic support.
3. Agenda Setting: We work collaboratively to identify your goals and address any resistance to change, creating a clear, personalized plan for treatment.
4. Methods: A wide range of CBT techniques is then tailored to the your specific needs to address your challenges directly.​
By combining these elements, TEAM-CBT provides a flexible approach that promotes effective coping skills and leads to meaningful and sustainable results,
ACT
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of psychotherapy that helps you live a more meaningful life by learning to make space for difficult emotions and thoughts rather than fighting or avoiding them. Rooted in mindfulness and behavioral psychology, ACT encourages people to observe their inner experiences without judgment and to recognize that painful thoughts and feelings are an unavoidable part of life.
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A central concept in ACT is psychological flexibility, which involves adapting to situations and staying connected to personal values, even in the face of discomfort. ACT focuses on helping you clarify what truly matters to you and then commit to actions that align with these values, despite emotional challenges. This process fosters resilience and creates a sense of purpose and direction that allows you to respond more effectively to stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues .
CPT for Trauma
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is an evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related conditions. It focuses on helping you process and make sense of traumatic experiences by addressing the negative beliefs and thought patterns that often develop after trauma. It also challenges feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame, which can perpetuate PTSD symptoms.
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Through 12 structured sessions, CPT guides you in re-evaluating unhelpful beliefs and developing a more balanced perspective on your trauma and its impact on your life. It helps you identify "stuck points"- thoughts or beliefs that prevent emotional recovery - and work through them with new, healthier interpretations. CPT is proven to reduce PTSD symptoms and improve emotional well-being, allowing clients to move forward with a renewed sense of control and self-worth.
DBT
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy developed to help manage intense emotions. DBT combines traditional cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices and focuses on balancing acceptance and change. DBT treatment consists of four main skill groups:​
1. Mindfulness: Teaching you to focus on the present moment and observe thoughts and feelings without judgment.
2. Distress Tolerance: Developing coping strategies for handling crises and intense emotions in a healthy, non-destructive way.
3. Emotion Regulation: Helping you understand, identify, and change your emotional responses, making it easier to maintain emotional balance.
4. Interpersonal Effectiveness: Equipping you with skills to communicate effectively, set boundaries, and maintain healthy relationships while respecting your own and others' needs.​
By combining these skills, DBT supports clients in managing intense emotions, reducing impulsive behavior, and building more stable, fulfilling lives.
CBT-I
CBT for Insomnia
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is a structured, evidence-based treatment that addresses thoughts and behaviors contributing to insomnia. Unlike medication, CBT-I focuses on practical skills and techniques to improve sleep quality and establish healthy sleep patterns. CBT-I typically involves several components:​
1. Cognitive Restructuring: Helps you identify and challenge negative thoughts about sleep, such as “I’ll never get a good night’s rest.”
2. Sleep Scheduling: Limits the amount of time spent in bed to consolidate sleep and increase sleep drive.
3. Stimulus Control: Encourages positive associations between bed and sleepness.
4. Sleep Hygiene Education: Provides guidance on lifestyle changes to promote a conducive sleep environment.
5. Relaxation Techniques: Teaches techniques to help reduce pre-sleep anxiety and calm the mind.​
Through CBT-I, you learn to drug-free ways to manage sleep-related anxiety, establish routines that support good sleep, and ultimately improve both the quality and quantity of your sleep.
