COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY (CBT)
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) aims to:
- Help individuals uncover unhelpful and irrational beliefs.
- Enable individuals to reality test their thinking and behaviours.
- Explore more adaptive and effective coping strategies for the individual.
As your therapist I will redirect your irrational thoughts, perceptions, attitudes and behaviour by changing the way you think, feel and behave enabling you to manage your issues and concerns more effectively. This will significantly help increase your self-esteem, emotional well-being and improve your symptoms. By identifying unhelpful, harmful and false thoughts which may be worsening your health and well-being, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) can help you to change them into more positive, helpful, healthier and realistic thoughts, which will ultimately improve your health and well-being.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a practical therapy which works through having a specific focus and goal. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is different from other therapies as sessions are structured, focused and goal-orientated as opposed to “talking freely” or dwelling on past events to gain insight into your emotional state of mind. Instead the focus is more on the “here and now” and about finding solutions on how to change your current thoughts and behaviours so that you can function better in the future. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is therefore an approach which is both practical and solution focused. Structured sessions also ensure that time is used efficiently and effectively ensuring that nothing important is missed out and that the sessions are heading towards achieving the client’s individual goals.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) does not see the therapist as being an all knowing and all powerful individual and nor does it encourage the client to become dependent on the therapist. Instead it favours a more equal therapeutic relationship where both client and therapist work through the sessions together. The collaborative style ensures that the client is actively involved in changing. The therapist will seek views and reactions from the client which will shape the way and direction in which therapy progresses.
On-going Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is important as this is beneficial to clients and helps them get the most from their sessions. This on-going therapy can take place in the form of “homework exercises” in between sessions which can involve mood and thought diaries, behaviour experiments, reading materials, exposing yourself to situations you are afraid of, or trying out new coping mechanisms which have been acquired during sessions.
WHAT CAN COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY (CBT) HELP WITH?
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) can effectively help with the following:
- Anger Management
- Eating Disorders
- Relationship / Marriage Problems
- Mood Swings
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Social Anxiety
- Sleep Problems
- Self Harming
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is not a miracle cure and you will not experience overnight change. You will need to be open and willing to participate in the therapeutic process by pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and talking about personal difficulties which will no doubt be a daunting and at times painful experience. However as the sessions go on, you will begin to notice a shift in your thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) sessions take place on a weekly basis with each one lasting one hour. It is common to have 15 – 20 sessions, although a course of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can be longer or shorter, depending on the nature and severity of your issue.
My Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) sessions are:
- Structured, focused and goal orientated, allowing you to envisage where you want to be in the future.
- Collaborative and interactive, where you and I will work together.
- Based on principles of trust, honesty and respect with no power imbalance between you and I.
My sessions will benefit you if:
- You want to improve your self-confidence and self-esteem.
- You want to take control of your life.
- You want to be able to manage your difficulties better.
- You are ready for change.
- If emotional problems are affecting your life and stopping you from doing what you would like to do, or simply from being yourself.