What is CBT?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based psychological therapy that can effectively treat a range of common mental health difficulties. CBT emphasises the interaction between your thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and behaviours; looking at how your thinking directly impacts how you feel and what you do. Working on these areas can break vicious cycles of symptoms that may currently keep your problems going. In particular, CBT addresses unhelpful thinking and behaviours, to help you change how you feel emotionally and physically.
CBT is preferable if you want to focus on improving how you feel in the here and now, rather than spend too much time talking about the past. However, there may be times when information about the past is important to consider, in order to help you move forwards now.
What are sessions like?
CBT begins with an assessment phase, where an understanding of your concerns are developed, ensuring that therapy techniques can be tailored to your symptoms and priorities. Treatment sessions then focus on developing strategies and skills to help you to change how you feel and alleviate unwanted symptoms. Progress depends greatly on how much you apply the learning from your sessions into your day-to-day life and like with any new skill, CBT tools require practice. The skills you develop can then be used to help you to stay well in the future.
How long does treatment take?
CBT is considered a short-term therapy, where the aim is to provide you with skills and strategies to be able to manage independently long-term. Treatment can last anywhere between 5-20 sessions and sessions are typically 50-60 minutes in length.