Third Wave CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
Third Wave CBT At Our Women's Treatment Center in San Diego
At Monima Wellness Center, we recognize that weekly therapy sometimes isn’t enough when addressing the complex trauma and mental health challenges women face. Our Third Wave CBT approach represents the evolution of cognitive behavioral therapy—moving beyond simply changing thoughts and behaviors to help you develop a healthier relationship with your internal experiences and create lasting psychological flexibility.
Through our comprehensive outpatient programs, we integrate Third Wave CBT with evidence-based treatments and holistic healing modalities, creating a supportive environment where women can develop the skills needed to thrive beyond their current struggles.
Third Wave CBT: A Revolutionary Approach to Healing
Third Wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy represents a breakthrough in mental health treatment. Instead of just trying to eliminate symptoms or change your thoughts, this approach helps you develop a healthier relationship with difficult emotions and experiences while still taking meaningful action in your life.
Unlike traditional therapy, which focuses on changing your thoughts, Third Wave CBT teaches you how to respond differently to your thoughts and feelings. It’s about learning to coexist with difficult emotions rather than being controlled by them, while still moving toward what matters most to you.
At Monima Wellness, we weave Third Wave CBT principles throughout our comprehensive outpatient programs, combining these approaches with other evidence-based treatments specifically designed for women’s unique healing journeys.
The evolution of cognitive behavioral therapy has occurred in distinct phases, each building upon the previous generation’s insights to create more comprehensive and effective treatment approaches.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Contact us today at 858-500-1542 to begin crafting your path to recovery.
The Three Waves of CBT Evolution
The evolution of cognitive behavioral therapy has occurred in distinct phases, each building upon the previous generation’s insights:
First Wave: Earlier approaches focused on changing behaviors through exposure and practice. If you were afraid of something, you’d gradually face that fear until it became manageable.
Second Wave: Traditional CBT taught you to identify and challenge negative thoughts. The idea was that if you could think more positively or rationally, you’d feel better and act differently.
Third Wave: Third Wave CBT takes a completely different approach. Instead of fighting your thoughts and feelings, you learn to accept them while still taking meaningful action toward what matters most to you. It’s about making peace with your inner experience while creating the life you truly want.
Levels of Care
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
The Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at Monima is individualized for women and offers part-time, intentional, and comprehensive treatment for challenges related to mental health and trauma recovery.
IOP is designed specifically for women ready for level of support above traditional once-per-week therapy, or as a stepping stone between a full-time recovery program — such as PHP or residential treatment — and returning to their daily routines full-time.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
The Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) at Monima provides treatment for women seeking a comprehensive and full-time mental health treatment program that fosters lasting mental, physical, and spiritual wellness.
PHP is the highest level of care available at Monima, intentionally designed for women that are ready for a step above basic therapy, psychiatric support, or IOP. Most clients take a leave of absence from work, school, or their daily routines to fully immerse themselves in healing.
Outpatient
Program
(OP)
Monima Wellness offers an outpatient program (OP) to provide continued mental health support while integrating into their daily lives. This program is ideal for those transitioning from more intensive levels of care, such as PHP or intensive outpatient treatment. Sometimes referred to as aftercare, the OP emphasizes maintaining and building upon the progress achieved in previous phases, allowing clients to begin balancing their recovery with work, education, or family responsibilities.
Our Third Wave CBT Modalities at Monima Wellness
At Monima Wellness Center, we integrate multiple Third Wave approaches within our comprehensive outpatient programs, ensuring each woman receives personalized care that addresses her unique healing journey. Our experienced clinical team combines these evidence-based modalities with our holistic treatment philosophy to create transformative healing experiences.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT helps women learn to stay present with their experiences and take meaningful action toward their values, even when facing difficult emotions or thoughts. Rather than spending energy trying to control or eliminate uncomfortable feelings, you learn to make room for them while still doing what matters to you. Our ACT-trained therapists help you:
- Discover what truly matters to you and why
- Practice being present with difficult feelings without being overwhelmed
- Build skills for accepting challenging emotions while still taking action
- Create a life guided by your values rather than controlled by your fears
- Develop flexibility when trauma responses or difficult emotions show up
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy provides women with practical skills for managing intense emotions and building healthier relationships. DBT combines mindfulness practices with cognitive-behavioral techniques, offering four core skill modules:
- Mindfulness: Developing present-moment awareness and non-judgmental observation of experiences
- Distress Tolerance: Learning to survive crisis situations without making them worse through impulsive actions
- Emotion Regulation: Understanding and managing intense emotions effectively
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: Building healthy communication and boundary-setting skills
Mindfulness-Based Interventions
Mindfulness forms the foundation of our Third Wave CBT approach, helping women develop a different relationship with their internal experiences. Our mindfulness-based interventions include:
- Mindfulness meditation practices adapted for trauma survivors
- Body-based mindfulness techniques through trauma-informed yoga
- Mindful movement and breathwork practices
- Integration of mindfulness principles into daily life and relationships
Metacognitive Approaches
Our therapists incorporate metacognitive strategies that help women understand their thinking processes and develop healthier relationships with their thoughts. This includes:
- Recognizing unhelpful thinking patterns and rumination cycles
- Developing cognitive flexibility and adaptive metacognitive beliefs
- Building awareness of attention and concentration processes
- Creating distance from troubling thoughts through cognitive defusion techniques
Specialized Third Wave CBT for Trauma Recovery
At Monima Wellness, we understand that traditional approaches to trauma treatment may not address the full complexity of women’s experiences. Our Third Wave CBT approach offers unique advantages for trauma survivors by recognizing that healing occurs not through eliminating traumatic memories, but through developing a healthier relationship with these experiences.
Trauma-Informed Third Wave Practices
Our trauma-informed Third Wave CBT recognizes that healing happens when you develop a different relationship with difficult memories and experiences, rather than trying to make them disappear. This compassionate approach includes:
- Learning to be present with trauma responses without judgment or shame
- Rebuilding a sense of meaning and direction after traumatic experiences
- Practicing mindfulness techniques that help calm your nervous system
- Developing body awareness that helps you feel safe in your own skin
Integration with Complementary Modalities
Our Third Wave CBT services seamlessly integrate with other evidence-based approaches available at Monima Wellness:
- EMDR Therapy combined with acceptance and mindfulness practices
- Cognitive Processing Therapy enhanced with values-based interventions
- Attachment-Based Therapy incorporating mindfulness and acceptance work
- Holistic modalities like acupuncture and sound healing that support Third Wave principles
The Benefits of Third Wave CBT for Women
Women often face unique challenges that make Third Wave CBT particularly beneficial, including societal pressures, relationship dynamics, and gender-specific trauma responses. Our approach recognizes these complexities and addresses them through specialized Third Wave interventions designed for women’s unique experiences.
Addressing Perfectionism and Self-Criticism
Many women struggle with perfectionism and harsh self-judgment that can feel overwhelming and exhausting. Third Wave CBT offers a different path by helping you:
- Practice self-compassion instead of constant self-criticism
- Learn to notice self-critical thoughts without being controlled by them
- Develop flexibility around perfectionist tendencies that cause suffering
- Build a sense of self-worth based on your values rather than achievements
Healing Relationship Patterns
Third Wave CBT offers powerful tools for transforming relationship dynamics:
- Mindful communication and presence in relationships
- Values-based boundary setting and self-advocacy
- Acceptance of others’ behaviors while maintaining personal values
- Building authentic connections through psychological flexibility
Managing Emotional Intensity
Women experiencing intense emotions benefit from Third Wave approaches through:
- Acceptance and mindfulness-based emotion regulation
- Values-guided action even during emotional distress
- Developing tolerance for uncomfortable feelings without avoidance
- Building resilience through psychological flexibility practices
Client Testimonials
Exceptional experience with Monima Wellness! From the moment I engaged with their team, I was struck by their compassion and expertise in tailoring support (thanks Molly and Nicole!). Their program offers a safe space for growth and healing while fostering a sense of community and empowerment. I highly recommend this program to any woman seeking comprehensive and supportive outpatient care.
The staff here has a wealth of knowledge and experience to guide clients on their journey to recovery. I wouldn’t hesitate to send a loved one here.
Monima gave us confidence in a very stressful time in our lives. The staff here is trustworthy and professional. So grateful for what they did for our family.
Monima wellness Center is incredibly helpful! The staff is among the best in San Diego and are very kind and supportive. The team understands how to help women navigate their mental health. I highly recommend!!!
Monima has wonderful staff who truly care about the well-being and healing of the people the help!
Great Staff who truly care about the treatment of others. They’ve opened up an opportunity and environment for females to really grow and thrive in their recovery.
Monima Wellness Center is a well run, highly ethical program that I would recommend! The facilities are beautiful and well kept. The clinical component is excellent. The leadership team is comprised of experienced and competent professionals that I trust.
Incredibly grateful for each and every person at Monima. The level of care is extraordinary and life changing. The energy and genuine love & care from the entire staff is contagious and brought so much positivity to my healing journey. Thank you to everyone at Monima!
Who-we-who (Thank-You in Eastern Shoshone Language) Monima Wellness Center, for helping me open my eyes to see my true values. My dignity is everything to me. My purpose to life has an endless meaningful mark left on my heart because of this program, and the support of the Ohana sober living.
I’ve been through so much mental health treatment in my life, and nothing compared to the 3.5 months I spent at Monima. The staff were so caring, validating, supportive, and knowledgeable and the connections I made were incomparable. I learned so much about myself and about how to not only cope, but heal. I left Monima with skills to succeed, and with a new outlook on my mental health, my identity, my relationships, and who I want to be going forward. I feel like a new person. Couldn’t recommend more!
I have been meaning to write this for a while now, but I struggled to find the right words because the truth is, there are no words powerful enough to fully express how much Monima has changed my life. I can say, without exaggeration, that I would not be here today if I hadn’t gone through this program. Before finding Monima, I was at my absolute breaking point. I felt hopeless, like the weight of past trauma was finally going to consume me. But from the moment I walked through those doors, everything changed. I was met with warmth, kindness, and a level of care so rare and so deeply genuine that, for the first time in a long time, I felt seen. The people at Monima don’t just do this work—they live it, they believe in it, and they pour their hearts into helping people heal.
I cannot recommend Monima Wellness highly enough. The trauma treatment I received has enabled me to move forward in a healthy and happy way. The staff is kind, professional, and compassionate. Everyone, from the front desk to the therapists and psychiatrists, is truly amazing. I am incredibly grateful for their support.
I know reviews have influenced my decisions before, so they’re important. My experience with Monima Wellness has been nothing short of amazing, life-changing, life-saving, and so much more. I have personally either interacted or received direct services from the owners, and let me tell you: not only do they know their sh*t, but they excel at it. Whether it’s neuropsychology evaluations, diagnostic services, culturally and trauma informed therapy, tons of supports or amazing customer service support, they are the best. Trust me, I’ve met many, but never a team so invested in my support, progress, and success.
This is a great place to heal. Good luck to you on your journey.
Why Choose Monima Wellness for Mental Health Treatment
Trauma often leaves women feeling disconnected—from their bodies, their emotions, their sense of safety, and their inner wisdom. Elemental Healing provides a gentle yet powerful pathway back to wholeness by reconnecting you with the natural healing forces that exist both within you and in the world around you.
Gender-Specific Expertise
Our women-centered approach recognizes the unique ways women experience and process psychological challenges. Our clinical team understands:
- Gender-specific trauma responses and healing needs
- Cultural and societal pressures that impact women’s mental health
- The intersection of gender identity, relationships, and psychological well-being
- Female-specific applications of therapeutic principles, including Third Wave CBT
Comprehensive Integration
Unlike providers who offer Third Wave approaches in isolation, Monima Wellness integrates these methods within a comprehensive treatment framework:
- Holistic combination of evidence-based and alternative healing modalities
- Medical and psychiatric support alongside Third Wave CBT
- Trauma-informed care principles embedded in all services
- Seamless coordination between individual and group interventions
Experienced Clinical Team
Our therapists bring specialized training and extensive experience in Third Wave CBT modalities:
- Advanced certifications in ACT, DBT, and mindfulness-based interventions
- Ongoing training in the latest therapeutic developments
- Experience adapting Third Wave and other therapeutic approaches for trauma survivors
- Commitment to gender-affirming and culturally responsive care
Supportive Environment
Our San Diego treatment center provides an optimal environment for Third Wave CBT practice:
- Safe, welcoming space designed for women’s comfort and healing
- Optional transitional housing that supports intensive therapeutic work
- Integration of nature and wellness practices that complement Third Wave principles
- Community of women supporting each other’s growth and healing
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Ready to Transform Your Relationship with Yourself?
Third Wave CBT isn’t just about managing symptoms—it’s about creating a life guided by your deepest values and developing the psychological flexibility to thrive, not just survive.
At Monima Wellness Center, our women-centered approach and comprehensive programs provide everything you need to develop lasting psychological flexibility and authentic living.
Take the first step toward transformation today.
