Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is more than just laying on the sofa and talking to someone. It is a type of psychotherapeutic treatment that helps patients understand the thoughts and feelings that influence behaviours.

What is CBT?

CBT is commonly used to treat a wide range of disorders, including phobias, addictions, depression, and anxiety. CBT has a good evidence base for a wide range of mental health problems in adults, older adults, children and young people. This research has been carefully reviewed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), who provide independent, evidence-based guidance for the NHS on the most effective ways to treat disease and ill health. 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.

How does CBT work?

The number of sessions you need depends on the difficulty you need help with. This will usually be between twelve and twenty sessions, typically of an hour long. If your difficulty is more complex, more sessions may be needed. I will help you to notice any patterns in thinking or behaviours which might be keeping problems going and teach you different CBT techniques which could help you.

We will discuss your specific difficulties and set goals for you to achieve. CBT is not a quick fix – it involves hard work during and between sessions e.g. keeping track of what you are thinking, feeling and doing, or trying out new ways of thinking or acting. At the end of your sessions, we will develop a ‘Staying on Track” plan; a plan that outlines and brings together everything we have covered over the sessions. We will set future goals and I will advise you on how to continue using CBT techniques in your daily life after your treatment ends.

Topics covered

Assessment

Identifying and understanding your unique thought patterns and behaviors, we will lay the foundation for effective and personalised interventions.

Goal Setting

Define clear and achievable goals, through collaborative work and develop a roadmap for progress, fostering motivation to guide you towards positive and sustainable change.

Formulation

Using a systematic and evidence-based approach, we will create a comprehensive formulation that uncovers the underlying factors contributing to your challenges.

What do my clients say?

I am able to break down my main goal into smaller achievable goals so I am not overwhelmed. It has made me aware of the unhelpful thinking habits and how to change them.

What to Expect

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is designed to support you to deal with the challenges you are experiencing in the here and now.

It is a time limited therapy that it usually structured, we will have an agenda at the beginning of each session and use it as a guide to ensure you are getting the most out the session. You are also required to bring agenda points to the session along with your therapist. A session usually last about 50 minutes weekly. In sessions I will support you to understand what is maintaining the problem you are experiencing. I will also guide you to understand how your thoughts, behaviours, feelings and physical sensation all connects and support you to understand if you can change one you can change all.

Why CBT?

Therapy will challenge you to test out your negative predictions through experiments to gain new perspectives. I will also support you to learn practical tools to manage the mental health challenge you might be experiencing. However, to get the most out of therapy collaboration is essential. To collaborate we must be honest about how we are both finding the therapy and talk about the challenges.

CBT is about hard work, there is no magic cure. In each session we will try to do practical task together in the session and you will be given task to continue between session. The important thing to note is that the bulk of therapy will be dependent on what you do between sessions. What you do between session is usually reviewed in the next session and learn is identified.

FAQs

How many sessions will I need?

This is possibly the most asked question about CBT.

CBT is not a one size fit all therapy so the number of sessions will vary from person to person. The NICE guideline generally recommended to 12-15 sessions for Anxiety disorders such as Generalised Anxiety Disorders and 12- 20 sessions for Depression. However, some patients benefit from 6 session while others need over 20 sessions to see progress.

Following the assessment and goal setting I am able to gain a better understanding of your challenges and will have a possible idea.

We also assess your progress weekly and can decide how much more sessions you will possibly need.

Why should I choose CBT over other therapies?

CBT is not the only talking Therapy available. There are other forms of Therapy such as psychoanalysis which is long term Therapy and can last for years. CBT is a short term Therapy that is goal force, offers practical tips and you are required to continue the Therapy between the session by engaging in homework.

Will get to explore my childhood?

CBT Therapy is considered a here -and- now treatment. One of the main principle of CBT is that we can’t change the past but we change how we think and behave in the present moment.

Your Therapist will explore the challenges that are affecting your mental health in the present moment and help you to learn strategies that can support you to to reclaim your life. The session don’t go deep into the past but explore the past briefly to see how it is affecting you now.

How does CBT differ from other forms of therapy?

CBT is considered to be a very active Therapy when compared to other psychotherapies and counselling. CBT is all about collabotion from start to finish. The aim of CBT is to support you to become your own therapist. It is usually a bit more structured than other forms of Therapy and you are expected to do task between sessions.