Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychological therapy that is based upon scientific evidence and repeated evaluation of its effectiveness.
Research has continually shown CBT to be very effective in working with a wide range of issues such as, depression, anxiety, eating issues, chronic pain, relationship issues, forensic issues and substance use. It is also able to be utilised across age groups, and intellectual abilities.
CBT involves helping you to change unhelpful patterns of thinking about things (the ‘cognitive’ bit) and trying different ways of doing things to try and feel better (the ‘behaviour’ bit). These changes can enhance helpful strategies you may already use and add extra tools to help you cope with many situations.
Unlike some of the other talking treatments, CBT focuses more on the “here and now” problems and difficulties, rather than simply focusing on the possible causes of your distress or symptoms in the past.
Some issues may have taken many years to develop, and cannot be resolved overnight. It takes effort by you, and application of the strategies and “homework” given to you by your psychologist to benefit from treatment.
Your psychologist will work in partnership with you, and use CBT strategies to build upon your strengths and develop ways to understand and improve your state of mind now.