Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches individuals to react differently to the situations and bodily sensations that trigger unwanted systems. Dr. Hartman uses coginitive-behavioral techniques in therapy with children because of the important role that thinking has in how we feel and what we do.

When unwanted emotions or behaviors emerge in play or through specific exercises, Dr. Hartman often educates using cognitive-behavioral techniques. For instance, she teaches about the link between a negative thought (i.e. 'I can't do it!'), the feeling that follows (i.e. I'm so mad!) and the behavior that occurs (i.e. giving up).

Dr. Hartman offers new approaches to dilemmas so that children/adolescents learn better choices for managing themselves and difficult situations. She talks about how when brains are healthy, it is thinking that helps us feel good and make healthy choices. She encourages 'homework' between sessions, so like the multiplication tables, new skills learned in therapy can become reliable tools in day-to-day life.

For more information on cognitive-behavioral therapy, please visit the National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists:http://www.nacbt.org/whatiscbt.htm