“The Backpack We All Carry” — A Gentle Introduction to CBT

Imagine you’re walking through life with a backpack. You didn’t pack it yourself—it was filled slowly over time. Some things inside are useful: love, memories, lessons. But other things? Heavy stuff. Doubts, fears, old stories that don’t belong to you. Maybe even things passed down from your parents, grandparents… things they carried too.

Now imagine someone kind walking beside you. They say, “Hey, want to take a peek inside that backpack together?” That’s what TCC (Thérapies Comportementales et Cognitives) or CBT ( Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is. It’s not about fixing you—because you’re not broken. It’s about helping you understand what you’re carrying, and deciding what you want to keep, what you want to let go, and what you want to transform.

What Happens in a TCC/CBT Session?

It’s a bit like detective work mixed with a dash of magic. Here’s how it goes:

1. We notice your thoughts

Like little clouds floating by. Some are light and fluffy. Others are stormy. We ask: “Where did this thought come from?” and “Is it really true?”

2. We explore your feelings

Not to judge them, but to understand them. Feelings are like messengers—they’re trying to tell you something important.

3. We look at your habits

Maybe you avoid things that scare you. Maybe you say “yes” when you mean “no.” We gently test new ways of doing things, like trying on new shoes to see how they fit.

4. We play with new tools

Breathing exercises, journaling, little challenges that help you feel stronger and safer. You get to be the hero of your own story.

What Makes TCC/CBT Special?

- It’s practical: You learn tools you can use every day.

- It’s collaborative: We work together, side by side.

- It’s gentle but powerful: You don’t have to dig through your whole past—but if something from long ago is still affecting you, we can explore it with care.

- It’s fun sometimes: Yes, therapy can be fun! We laugh, we get curious, we celebrate your wins.

Why I Love TCC/CBT

I believe we all carry stories—some are ours, some are inherited. TCC/CBT helps us rewrite the ones that no longer serve us. It’s like gardening: we pull out the weeds, plant new seeds, and watch something beautiful grow.

Ready to Begin?

If you’re curious, nervous, or unsure—that’s okay. You don’t have to know everything. You just have to show up with your backpack. I’ll be here to walk beside you.