Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Laguna Beach

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, works on the loop between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. A thought triggers a feeling, the feeling drives a behavior, and the behavior reinforces the thought. David Lindquist, LMFT, uses CBT to help you find where that loop can be interrupted, whether that means noticing an unhelpful thought pattern as it happens or changing a behavior that has been keeping anxiety or avoidance in place.

CBT is structured and practical. Rather than open-ended exploration, sessions tend to focus on specific patterns you want to change, with concrete tools you can use between sessions. That does not mean it is rigid or impersonal. The structure gives the work direction, but the pace and focus are shaped around what you bring in.

David brings CBT together with training in Gestalt therapy, somatic approaches, and CBIT (Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics), which means the work can flex to what actually helps, rather than applying one method regardless of fit. For obsessive-compulsive patterns specifically, CBT is often paired with exposure-based strategies. Our OCD therapy page has more on that combination.

Sessions are held in our Laguna Beach office or by telehealth across California. The first step is always a free consult, so we can confirm CBT is the right fit before you commit to anything.