It’s the thought that counts…
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?
Many years of extensive research has shown CBT to be one of the most effective talking therapies for many mental health and emotional problems. Advised for both specific disorders and common emotional issues, the tools and techniques we use and learn can also be applied for many aspects of life. To be honest, my first experience of CBT made me think… Wow! If only this was compulsory at school age, the world would be a much happier place.
“Wow! If only this was compulsory at school age, the world would be a much happier place.”
CBT focuses on the relationship between your Thoughts (Cognitions), Behaviours and your Feelings. Learning how these are interdependent of each other, we start to identify unhelpful patterns which may be at the root of emotional and behavioural problems.
Focused on the here and now we draw from CBTs many evidence based techniques and tools, tailored to you in a practical and solution focused manner. Unlike some therapeutic methods we do not dwell in the past, instead we draw from it to develop understanding of your current situation. Learning how you view yourself and others, we can then make positive steps focused on change.
As a fully qualified CBT therapist I work with you in a partnership at your own pace. Developing a therapeutic relationship, I may gently but actively guide you to help identify the impact your thoughts, emotions and behaviours are having in relation to how you are now.
How does CBT work?
There are many tools and techniques within the CBT umbrella. Enabling our work to identify, challenge and replace unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. Believe it or not, we have up to 100,000 thoughts per day. Unfortunately it’s the often unnoticed, unhelpful ones which tend to stick and influence emotional disturbances and problematic behaviours.
Through CBT interventions we identify what is going on for you. Recognise unhelpful patterns which are making you feel the way you are, analyse them and gently challenge certain unhelpful thoughts, behaviours and beliefs. Doing so you learn to replace them with more comfortable, rational and healthier alternatives.
For a more efficient and successful outcome, homework will often be used. This part of CBT maximises the benefits of therapy by incorporating new methods into the areas of your life which need attention. It is also a learning process, a therapeutic one regarding what you learn about yourself and also educational, known as psycho-education. All related to what is meaningful for you.
“I teach you to become your own therapist. OK, that sounds like bad business sense, I know”
CBT also has long lasting benefits as I aim to teach you to become your own therapist for moving forward. OK, that sounds like bad business sense, I know, yet as a principle of CBT it is a necessary and rewarding part to the therapeutic process. Helping you to understand yourself more and how to adapt to challenges life may bring.
To put it simply, we work at a safe comfortable pace following a down-to-earth and practical process unique to your issue. Where we will…
Identify
Identify what is happening with your emotions, thoughts and behaviours and analyse their influence on the way you are now.
Challenge
Find meaningful and personally evidenced alternatives, to the patterns and beliefs that are causing emotional disturbances or problematic behaviours.
Replace
Combined with your own values, new understanding and perspectives develop healthier, more rational ways to manage and overcome your issues.
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