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What is CBT Therapy?
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a short-term psychological treatment which is particularly suitable for specific, focused problems ranging from phobias and panic attacks to eating disorders and depression.
Mental health problems are common, and effect many adults. Depression, anxiety and phobias are among the most frequently diagnosed disorders.
CBT is based on the belief that most unhealthy modes of thinking and behaving have been learned over a long period of time. Using a set of structured techniques, a CBT therapist aims to identify thinking that causes problematic feelings and behaviour. The client then learns to change this thinking which, in turn, leads to more appropriate and positive responses.
For example, negative thoughts usually lead to upsetting or angry feelings which then affect our mood and our behaviour. If a person is unable to counter such thoughts with a more positive stance, a negative spiral ensues and perceptions of a situation can become distorted. CBT encourages the person to challenge their beliefs about themselves and their abilities so that they achieve a more realistic view of the situation.
Aims of CBT
CBT aims to help people challenge their negative beliefs. Once they are thinking more realistically, they are encouraged to imagine how they would go about confronting a feared situation. They are helped to expose themselves gradually to real-life scenarios.
This work takes place within the context of a collaborative therapist/client relationship in which people decide jointly on the goals to work towards and plan assignments and session topics together. The aim of CBT is to provide the client, within a limited timescale, with the insight and skills to improve their quality of life. The client should continue to cope and to progress once therapy is finished.
How CBT treatment works
CBT is a short-term treatment which takes 8 – 12 (sometimes longer) individual sessions. The number of sessions will depend on the type of problem and on the commitment of the client. Each session will last for 50 minutes.
The aim of treatment is for the client and therapist to work in partnership to identify patterns of thought and behaviour which are causing problems, and to plan a structured way forward with agreed practical objectives.
The success of CBT depends on the active participation of the client in the whole process, so there is an initial interview which enables the client to decide whether they want to go ahead with the therapy. It also enables the therapist to judge the client's commitment, and decide whether this sort of therapy is suitable.
