What Is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy?

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is an action oriented and time limited form of therapy based on scientific principles that can help people who are experiencing a wide range of mental health problems including depression, anxiety, self-esteem, anger, loneliness, panic, fears, substance abuse, eating disorders, alcohol misuse, trauma, insomnia, personality problems and chronic pain. It is a form of psychotherapy proven in numerous clinical trials to be effective for a wide range of disorders. The effectiveness of CBT is supported by evidence from more than 400 controlled trials as well as case studies. The number of sessions recommended varies with each person and depends on the number of issues they would like to change. Some clients find that even after a few sessions they have found their new learning so useful as to continue on their own. Most clients notice symptom relief after the first session or couple of sessions. Treatment will only continue as long as it is beneficial.

Can this therapy help me?

The therapist and client work together as a team to identify and understand problems in terms of the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. The therapist helps clients overcome their difficulties by gradually modifying their thinking, feeling and behaviour. CBT is more focused on the present with less time devoted to childhood experiences. It is more time limited and more problem solving oriented than other approaches. What people think can affect how they feel and how they behave. During times of distress, people may think differently about themselves and what happens to them. CBT therapists can help each person identify and change their thinking and unhelpful behaviour. The result is often a major improvement in how a person feels and lives. There is an emphasis on collaboration, working on mutually agreed upon problems. It is action-oriented, practical and helps the client gain effectiveness in dealing with their issues. It teaches the client to become their own therapist and therefore need not be long term therapy. The treatment focuses on changing one’s thoughts to be more balanced resulting in more balanced feelings and behaviours.

New CBT interventions are keeping pace with developments in the academic discipline of psychology in areas such as attention, perception, reasoning and decision making. The cognitive and behavioural psychotherapies target distressing symptoms, reduce distress, re-evaluate thinking and promote helpful behaviour by offering problem focused interventions. The focus is often on teaching specific skills. Clients participate in treatment both in and out of session. Action Plans (formerly called homework) are a key component of CBT. What you learn in therapy is often what you try outside of therapy. The client together with the therapist develop goals for therapy and track progress of goals during the course of treatment. An agenda is set to make sure all relevant material is covered during each session. The agenda is set collaboratively by the client and therapist.