Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
What is CBT?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a type of psychotherapy based on the concept that your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions are interconnected, and that negative thoughts and feelings can trap you in a vicious cycle causing distress.
When a person suffers with psychological distress, the way in which they interpret situations can become distorted, which in turn has a negative impact on the actions they take.
As a therapist my role is to help the client recognise their cognitions (thoughts, assumptions and beliefs) and to understand the relationship between these and their distressing emotions.
Sessions
CBT is very much about the client and therapist collaborating together for a good outcome. In the first session an assessment will be made this helps the client decide if the therapist and CBT is a good fit for them. It gives the therapist a chance to find out why you are there and explain what you can expect from sessions and what will be expected of you.
During future sessions, you will work with your therapist to break down your problems and analyse areas, which are not working and are possibly having an effect on your daily life. Your therapist will then be able to help you work out how to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, you will be asked to practice these changes between sessions and discuss how you got on during the next session.
The eventual aim of therapy is to teach you to apply the skills you have learned during treatment to your daily life. This can help you manage any problems and stop them having a negative impact on your life.