Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a form of therapy that supports people to be able to challenge their thoughts and their behaviours, which impact on the way that they feel.  It is an evidence based therapy that is widely used in the NHS, and can produce some beneficial results.

There are some basic principles that are at the heart of CBT:

• The cognitive principle suggests that it is the interpretation of events and not the actual events that are crucial
• The behavioural principle suggests that what we do has an enormous impact on the way that we think and feel.
• The “here and the now” principle suggests that it is more beneficial to focus on the current difficulties which are maintaining unhelpful thoughts and behaviours as opposed to the focus being on events that may have occurred in the past.
• The “interactions of systems” principle suggests that it is useful to focus on problems as interactions between thoughts, behaviours, feelings and physical symptoms, in the context of the environment that the individual is in.
• The aim of CBT is that the person essentially becomes their own therapist and is able to continue to put in to practice the skills that they learn and develop in CBT.
• Doing “homework” or “out of session tasks” in between sessions is also an integral part of CBT. This is about empowerment, and the individual taking responsibility for their wellbeing.

CBT is generally a short-term model of therapy.  The number of sessions that may be required are generally discussed at the beginning of therapy, and regular reviews are done throughout therapy.  Goals are discussed the beginning of therapy, and goals are set collaboratively. 

Psycho-education is an important part of CBT.  Before we work with anything we need to understand what is happening, and what our difficulties are.  We can only change something when it is in our awareness.

CBT works with a range of anxiety disorders (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Social Phobia, Generalised Anxiety Disorders)  as well as phobias, sleep related difficulties, Depression, disordered eating, amongst a variety of other difficulties. 

CBT generally consists of three treatment elements, which are assessment, formulation (understanding the difficulties) and treatment.  Each step is unique to the presenting difficulties that individuals have.  As individuals we do not fit in to boxes, so treatment needs to be adapted to suit one’s needs.  There is also not a cure, so it is important to understand that CBT is about managing the difficulties and symptoms that are causing distress as opposed to finding a cure.