Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Psychologist Karen L. Gillock, PhD
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors, not external things, like people, situations, and events. By identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and practicing healthier responses, you can change the way you think so that you can feel better and do what is healthier for you.
Specializations
When you work with a psychologist who specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, you receive more than general support—you receive focused, evidence-informed care designed for your specific challenges, whether anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, relationships, or life transitions.
Practice Information
When something is troubling you or someone you love, CBT can help. Whether you’re facing anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, or challenges during or after cancer treatment, focused therapy offers practical tools to understand patterns, reduce distress, build resilience, and move toward a calmer, more confident life with meaningful support today.
About Dr. Karen
FAQs
Have questions about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? This FAQ explains how CBT works, what to expect, and how it can help with anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, and life changes. Learn how focused, practical therapy can strengthen coping skills and support meaningful progress toward feeling better and living more confidently.
Why Dr. Karen
Working with a CBT-focused psychologist gives you tools you can use beyond the therapy session, helping you manage anxiety, stress, depression, and self-defeating habits more effectively. The approach is structured, evidence-informed, and centered on real progress.
CBT helps you identify unhelpful thought patterns.
CBT provides practical tools you can use in everyday life.
CBT is personalized to meet your specific abilities and needs.
Mission Statement
My mission is to promote your potential as you define it. By helping you identify the psychological, environmental, and situational factors that are interfering with your ability to realize your potential, I can teach you the necessary skills and techniques to more effectively manage or eliminate those obstacles. I believe that when people are free from the psychological barriers to their goals and aspirations, they are enabled to identify healthy goals, maximize their growth potential, and lead happy, productive lives.
Why Dr. Karen
Working with a CBT-focused psychologist gives you tools you can use beyond the therapy session, helping you manage anxiety, stress, depression, and self-defeating habits more effectively. The approach is structured, evidence-informed, and centered on real progress.
CBT helps you identify unhelpful thought patterns.
CBT provides practical tools you can use in everyday life.
Dr. Karen can personalize CBT strategies to your specific needs.
Contact Dr. Karen
My preferred means of contact is email. I will make every effort to return your call/email within 48-72 hours (not including weekends, holidays, absences, and vacations). If you need to speak with someone sooner, please call 911 and/or contact your local hospital emergency room and ask for the psychiatrist on call.
115 Etna Road
Building 1, Suite 102
Lebanon, NH 03766
Office Hours:
Monday and Friday – mornings 9-12:00, afternoons 1-4:00, evenings 5-8:00
Tuesday and Thursday – mornings 9-12:00, afternoons 1-4:00
Preparing for Your First Visit
Our first priority involves developing a basic shared understanding of your needs and motivations for coming to therapy at this time. I will be asking you questions such as “what brings you here today?” and “what changes would you like to make?”. In order to make the most effective use of your therapy, we will want to have made a clear understanding of the problem you wish to address and the strengths/ motivations you bring to your therapy efforts. In our first visit, we can both decide if CBT is the best means and if I am the best person to provide the services you need in order to meet your therapy goals.
Goals
To make sure your goals are attainable, make them SMART:
- Specific (simple, sensible, significant) – in order to focus your efforts and feel truly motivated to achieve your goals.
- Measurable (meaningful, motivating) – so that you can track your progress, stay motivated, and know when the goal has been accomplished.
- Achievable (agreed, attainable) – goals need to be realistic and attainable to be successful. They stretch your abilities but still remain possible. Beware of setting goals that someone else has power over – focus on achievements that are entirely up to you.
- Relevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based) – ensure that your goals matter to you, that they are worthwhile and applicable to you.
- Time-bound (time-based, time-limited, time/cost limited, timely, time-sensitive) – so that you have a deadline to focus on and something to work toward.
Fees
Service fees are based on a $225 “therapy hour” (45-50 minute psychotherapy session; 38-52 minute insurance schedule). These rates apply, but are not limited, to in-office or telehealth psychotherapy sessions, communications of a clinical nature (not administrative, i.e., rescheduling), report writing, records preparation/transmission, collaborative contacts with third parties (i.e., insurance companies, other providers), attending meetings with other professionals, and generating balance due statements and/or other efforts to collect fees/late cancellations/missed appointments. Payment is expected at the time of service, unless you will be using your CIGNA insurance. Acceptable forms of payment include check, credit card, or cash.
Insurance
CIGNA is the only insurance company with whom I am a contracted provider. If you have any questions or concerns about insurance coverage or benefits, contact CIGNA directly for confirmation of coverage. Because your health insurance policy is a contract between you and CIGNA, it is your responsibility to obtain an authorization for service prior to your first visit, and to pay for any balance on your account, not to exceed the contracted rates I have agreed to accept from CIGNA for covered services. In the event that CIGNA does not reimburse for mistakes they or you have made (e.g. claims processing errors or data losses, failure to let me know that your plan has renewed or changed), you will be responsible for full payment of my standard fees.
If you have health insurance through a company other than CIGNA, it will usually provide some coverage for behavioral/mental health treatment. Upon request, I will provide you with a statement of services and fees that you can independently submit to your insurance carrier, but you will be responsible for paying for our sessions at the time the service is rendered at my full rate.
Treatment Contract
Because our initial objectives will be assessing your therapy fit and goals, in preparation for our first meeting, I ask you to read my Treatment Contract & Information on Policies/ Procedures (link to that page?) – it is a lot, but thorough and necessary for you to be able to make an informed decision about undertaking CBT with me.
Curated Articles
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Applied to Negative Thoughts
These are quick, often habitual thoughts that shape how a person interprets events. For example:
“I failed at this, so I’m a failure.”
“They didn’t text back, so they must be angry with me.”
“Something bad is going to happen.”
“Everyone is judging me.”
CBT helps people identify these thoughts, question whether they are accurate, and replace them with more balanced interpretations.
How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Can Help Address Avoidance Behavior
Many people cope with anxiety, sadness, embarrassment, or fear by avoiding situations that make them uncomfortable. For example, they may avoid social events, difficult conversations, medical appointments, public speaking, or tasks that feel overwhelming.
The problem is that avoidance often gives short-term relief but makes the fear stronger over time. CBT helps people gradually face avoided situations in manageable steps, while also changing the thoughts that make those situations feel threatening.
In simple terms: CBT helps people stop letting fear decide what they do.
