WHAT IS CBT ?

Cognitive Behaviour Psychotherapies (CBT) are psychological approaches based on scientific principles. CBT is the most evidence based form of therapy that focuses on beliefs, thinking and choice.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviour, not extreme things, like people, situations and events. It is reassuring therefore that we can change the way we think  to feel /act better even if the situation is still the same.
Research shows that CBT is effective for a wide range of problems.
Clients and therapist works collaboratively in a therapeutic alliance, to identify and understand the current presenting problems in terms of the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
The approach focuses on difficulties in the here and now and is time limited. The treatments are empowering to the client as they help him/her to focus on specific psychological and practical skills (understanding, exploring and evaluating the meaning attributed to the event/situation) thus helping him/her deal with their own problems using their own resources. Short and long term goals are collaboratively agreed by client and therapist and between sessions homework is set.
CBT has a good evidence base in terms of its effectiveness in reducing symptoms and preventing relapse. It has been recommended by  National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence  as a treatment of choice for a number of mental health difficulties, including post-traumatic stress disorder, OCD, bulimia nervosa and clinical depression.
Treatment interventions have proven the efficacy and effectiveness of CBT in the treatment of common mental health problems such as

• The anxiety disorders, generalised anxiety, panic, phobias
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Posttraumatic stress disorder
• Bulimia and depression
• Assertion and communication skills
• Public speaking and coaching for performance
• Severe and enduring Mental Health, e.g. schizophrenia Anger management
• Pain adjustment and physical health problems
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Crohns Disease and  Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Insomnia
• Organic Syndrome such as Early Stage Dementia

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy works with groups, families and individuals and can be used on its own or in conjunction with medication depending on the presenting problem.
It is used in many fields other than mental health e.g. education, public health, organisational and forensic psychology, management consultancy and sports.