Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a form of talking therapy that explores the connections between your thoughts, emotions, and actions. By integrating cognitive (thought-based) and behavioural (action-based) approaches, CBT promotes practical strategies for addressing various issues, helping you break down complex situations into manageable parts.
What is CBT?
CBT is practical and solution-oriented, focusing on how changing your thoughts or behaviours can alter how you feel about life.
It investigates learned behaviours and negative thought patterns, guiding you to adapt them for better support.
Sessions emphasise present challenges while allowing for reflection on past experiences, as your counsellor helps identify unhelpful thinking patterns and devise practical changes.
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What can CBT help with?
- anxiety disorders
- depression
- eating disorders
- OCD
- phobias
- PTSD
- sleep problems (insomnia).
It can also assist with chronic health issues, helping you manage symptoms and reduce stress.
Tailored approaches, like trauma-focused, integrate additional elements to enhance support for specific conditions.
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What to expect from CBT sessions
Collaborate with your counsellor to set goals and track progress.
Typically held weekly for 50 minutes to an hour, therapy last from six weeks to six months, depending on your needs.
Together, you'll outline your goals and actively engage in the therapeutic process, including completing homework assignments to reinforce learning and prepare you for continued growth after therapy ends.
Delivered through one-on-one sessions, group therapy, or online counselling.
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How does CBT work?
Helps simplify overwhelming problems by breaking them into smaller parts, such as thoughts, feelings, and actions. When these elements get stuck in a negative loop, it can lead to stress or anxiety, and CBT techniques aim to disrupt this cycle for healthier thinking patterns.
For instance, if you struggle with feelings of inadequacy in relationships, CBT can help you recognise these thoughts and replace them with more constructive beliefs.
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Guided discovery in CBT
Encouraging you to reflect on how you process information, fostering open-mindedness to shift unhelp perceptions. This collaborative process builds a positive therapeutic relationship, helping you focus on solutions as well as problems.
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Is CBT the right approach for you?
May not suit everyone.
It's particularly beneficial for those willing to engage actively in therapy, examine their thought patterns, complete practical tasks, and prefer a structured, goal-oriented approach.
Commitment to assignments is crucial, the most significant progress often occurs outside of sessions, helping you build self-confidence and belief in your abilities.
