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"CBT: What It Is, How It Helps, and Why It’s Not Just Positive Thinking in Disguise"

Ever been told to “just think positive” while in the middle of a mental tailspin? Yeah… that’s not CBT.

If you’ve ever Googled “therapy near me” and come across the term CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), you might be wondering:

  • What is this thing with three letters?

  • Is it going to fix me?

  • Do I have to lie on a couch and talk about my childhood hamster?

Let’s clear it up — no jargon, no fluff, and definitely no hamster analysis (unless you really want to).


🧠 So… what is CBT?

CBT is a type of talking therapy that helps you understand the unholy trio of:

  • Your thoughts

  • Your feelings

  • Your behaviours

And how they all do this slightly chaotic tango that can make anxiety, depression, or stress worse over time.

Imagine this:

You think, “I’m probably going to mess this up.”You feel anxious.You avoid doing the thing.You feel worse.Rinse and repeat.

CBT helps you interrupt that cycle — not by pretending everything’s fine, but by checking in on your thoughts and behaviours like a curious detective with a cup of tea.


❌ What CBT isn’t

Let’s clear up a few myths while we’re here:

  • CBT isn’t about forcing positivity.

  • It’s not quick-fix “mindset coaching.”

  • It doesn’t ignore your past — but it focuses on what’s happening right now and what you can do about it.

And nope, I won’t be saying “Just be grateful!” when you’re having a rough day.


✅ What actually happens in CBT?

Think of CBT as teamwork between you and your therapist (👋 hi, that’s me). Together, we:

  • Explore your patterns — what’s getting in your way?

  • Try small, realistic shifts in thinking or behaviour

  • Test out new ways of coping

  • Adjust as we go — it’s collaborative, not one-size-fits-all

And yes, there are sometimes worksheets or experiments between sessions. No homework detention though.


🧰 What does CBT help with?

CBT is evidence-based (which is therapy-speak for “well researched and proven to work”) for all kinds of things, including:

  • Anxiety & overthinking

  • Low mood or depression

  • Phobias

  • Social anxiety

  • Stress & burnout

  • OCD

  • Health anxiety

  • Perfectionism

  • Sleep struggles

  • And more…

If your brain has been running the same exhausting script on loop — CBT helps you change the script.


❤️ Final thoughts

CBT isn’t about fixing you — because you’re not broken.It’s about helping you understand your mind, respond with a bit more kindness, and get unstuck from unhelpful patterns.

And if we can laugh a little along the way? Even better.


👉 Thinking about starting CBT?

You can learn more by looking on our website. Or just send me a message if you’re curious — no pressure, no spam, no “just think positive.”


 
 
 

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