What is CBT?
CBT or Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is a collaborative therapeutic approach that examines our thoughts, emotions and behaviours. It focuses on specific problems by identifying how unhelpful thinking styles and what we do can negatively affect the way we feel. It is the psychological treatment of choice in treating a range of problems including Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Panic and Phobias.
It an evidence based form of therapy that has been extensively researched and is recognized by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) the body that determines and recommends effective treatments within the NHS.
It is a highly structured form of psychotherapy and fully involves the client in both in and out of session work. CBT offers tools that help the person to become their own therapist and therefore assists prevention of relapse in the future. Any form of change requires effort and commitment by the individual involved and CBT is no different in this regard. Therefore although in session work is important, how the person tests out new ways of thinking and acting on a daily basis is a likely determinant in the therapy having a successful outcome.
In comparison with other forms of psychotherapy the length of treatment is relatively brief. The number of sessions is dependent on the complexity of the presenting problems and can vary between 5 and 30 following initial assessment. CBT has been shown to be at least as effective as medication for certain psychiatric disorders.