Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy that looks at the connections between your THOUGHTS, EMOTIONS, PHYSICAL FEELINGS and BEHAVIOURS.
When we are experiencing difficulties, there are typical patterns of thoughts and behaviours that we fall into that end up making us feel worse. These patterns create vicious cycles that keep the problem going.
CBT aims to do the following:
1. Help you to become aware of any vicious cycles present in your life
2. Point out the unhelpful thoughts and behaviours that are keeping the problem going
3. Introduce practical ways for you to change your thinking style, help you take positive actions and improve your wellbeing overall.
Here and Now
CBT is mainly focused on what is happening in the present, although sometimes it can be helpful to make reference to the past, if it helps to make sense of what is going on for you now.
Taking Action
CBT is practical and focuses on change.
At the essence of CBT is discovery - finding out what is working for you and what is not. Typically, this will involve experimenting and doing things differently to see the results.
It's a 'doing' therapy - whilst talking and understanding your difficulties is important in CBT, equally, so is approaching and thinking about situations through an alternative lens.
Like the saying goes - you cannot expect to do the same thing and get different results!
