Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)​

 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been found to be helpful for a wide range of emotional and physical health conditions. During CBT we are helped to examine our Thoughts in a Situation (cognitions) and how this affects our Actions (behaviour). In turn, our actions can affect our Thoughts, Mood and Physical sensations. The way our body feels is linked to our Mood and our Thoughts. If negative interpretations of situations go unchallenged, then these patterns in our Thoughts, Actions, Mood, and Physical effects can become part of a continuous cycle.

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Often just seeing all the elements separated out can help a person to feel more able to address them. It is less overwhelming and gives us the plan to work on.

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Everybody is different. So, in therapy, this process is personalised to you and your symptoms. Working together, I help my clients to map out their unique patterns, and we take note of any Thoughts or Actions that are unhelpful for them. I then encourage them to think about whether those could be changed in any way.

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As all elements are interconnected, changing one thing can have a huge impact on the whole system. This results in faster and more long-lasting results for most people.

 

 

In therapy, we tend to focus on what is going on in our life right now, but we might also look at our past, and think about how our past experiences have impacted the way we see ourselves, other people, and the world, today. If the past has had an effect, then I teach you ways to resolve this.

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Why CBT?

NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) is an organisation that produces guidelines that are evidence-based recommendations for health and care in England. CBT is recommended as the most effective treatment for anxiety disorders and is also recommended for the treatment of depression by NICE. NICE recommends CBT for the treatment of the following conditions:

 

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• agoraphobia

• depression

• generalised anxiety disorder

• illness/health anxiety

• obsessive-compulsive disorder

• panic attacks

• panic disorder

• phobias

• post-traumatic stress disorder

• trichotillomania

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There is also growing evidence that CBT is helpful in treating many other conditions, including:

 

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• chronic fatigue

• chronic pain

• physical symptoms without a medical diagnosis

• sleep difficulties

• anger management

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CBT can be used if you are on medication which has been prescribed by your GP. You can also use CBT on its own. This will depend on the difficulty you want help with. I usually combine CBT with the other therapies that I am trained in to supplement and improve treatment outcomes.

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*There are many psychotherapists and counsellors offering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Some may not have had comprehensive training or significant clinical practice. Please always ensure that your therapist is professionally accredited with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP).