What is CBT?
What is CBT?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT for short, is an evidence-based and highly effective therapeutic approach. It is aimed at solving problems related to dysfunctional emotions, behaviours and thoughts (what are also known as ‘cognitions’). It identifies the relationship and interconnectedness between each of these areas. For example, your thoughts about a certain situation can often affect how you feel both physically and emotionally, as well as how you act in response (our behaviours).
CBT is mainly concerned with how you think and act now, in the present, rather than exploring and resolving past issues. We often spend time initially discussing early experiences to enable us to gain a better understanding of the development of your current difficulties but the focus in CBT, is in short, looking at what is maintaining your current difficulties and understanding how it developed, rather than exploring in detail what may have contributed to your problem/s. It is pragmatic, structured and highly collaborative.
In CBT, your therapist will discuss your specific difficulties and set therapeutic goals for you to work through and towards during treatment. Deciding together, on what specific problems you want to work on in order to improve your situation with a view to continuing to use CBT techniques after your treatment ends. You can find out more under 'What to Expect'
CBT works
Many CBT treatment programs for specific disorders have been evaluated for efficacy and most evidence favours CBT over other approaches. This research has been carefully reviewed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE provides independent, evidence-based guidance for the NHS on the most effective, proven treatment(s).
What can CBT help with?
NICE recommends CBT in the treatment of anxiety disorders including panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia and psychosis and bipolar disorder and depression, as well as eating disorders, tinnitus and insomnia.
There is also good evidence that CBT can also help with those presenting with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia, chronic pain and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
CBT Treatments available at the CBT Practice for:
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Panic Attacks
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Agoraphobia
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Social Anxiety / Performance Anxiety
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Specific Phobias
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
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Stress
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Irritable Bowel
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Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) or excessive worry
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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Depression
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Mood/anxiety changes due to long-standing medical conditions
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Sleep difficulties including insomnia
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Chronic Fatigue
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Pain
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Anger
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Perfectionism
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Health/Illness Anxiety
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Low Self-Esteem
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Body Dysmorphic Disorder
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Tinnitus