What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a therapeutic approach rooted in the idea that thoughts, feelings and behaviours are interconnected. It focuses on how your thoughts/beliefs and behaviours affect how you feel. CBT aims to identify and modify unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours with the goal of changing and helping how you feel.
CBT tends to focus on the here and now issues and experiences that are impacting you in the present, however past experiences may be explored to help the individual understand the origin of their current thoughts and behaviours. It is a goal-oriented therapy that provides a structured and proactive approach to change. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a very collaborative process wherein the therapist and individual work together, creating a safe space for exploration, learning and change.
Some key features of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy include:
- Thought identification – Identifying and understanding negative or unhelpful thoughts that are causing you distress.
- Challenge and Reframe – Once identified, therapists help individuals challenge and reframe irrational or harmful thoughts, promoting more balanced thinking. Often a therapist will use worksheets that support the process such as ‘thought records/diaries’ and psycho-education on identifying thoughts and ‘categories’ of thoughts (‘catastrophising’ and ‘all-or-nothing thinking’, etc), as well as understanding the different types of feelings we experience (fear, anger, sadness, disgust, surprise, joy, etc).
- Behavioural Strategies – CBT places an emphasis on behavioural interventions, encouraging individuals to adopt healthier coping mechanisms and positive actions. Examples of these interventions include behavioural activation, graded exposure and behavioural experiments to help the individual ‘test’ – and then modify – the accuracy of their unhelpful thoughts and beliefs.
- Goal-Oriented: CBT is goal-oriented, with specific objectives tailored to each individual’s needs, fostering a structured and proactive approach to change. It is usually a short to medium term treatment.
- Skill Building – CBT provides individuals with practical skills such as problem solving, stress management, enhancing their ability to navigate challenges.
In essence, CBT empowers individuals to understand and change unhelpful thoughts patterns and behaviours, fostering improved emotional well-being.
What can CBT treat?
CBT has demonstrated effectiveness in treating a wide range of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, stress, OCD, bipolar disorder, phobias, eating disorders (CBT-E), and more.
How we can help
If you’re looking for a counsellor in Durham, we offer a range of mental health services at North East Counselling and Therapy, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Our qualified therapists and counsellors will work with you to unpack the things that are causing you stress.
Appointments are carried out in a comfortable and professional environment across our two locations in Durham. Contact us to set up an initial 60 minute assessment session, and we will work together to identify which course of action is best for you.