Cognitive Behavioural Therapy  

“Cognitive Behaviour Therapy can empower an individual to manage and transform their feelings and thus their life” Professor Lord Layard

What are Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies?

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies are psychological approaches which are based on scientific principles and which research has shown to be effective for a wide range of problems. Client and therapists work together to identify and understand problems in terms of the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. The approach usually focuses on difficulties in the here and now, and relies on the therapist and client developing a shared view of the individual's problem. This then leads to the identification of personalised, time-limited therapy goals and strategies which are continually monitored and evaluated. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists work with individuals, families and groups. The approaches can be used to help anyone irrespective of ability, culture, race, gender or sexual preference.

What to expect.

In behavioural and cognitive psychotherapies the therapist and the client work together to

• develop a shared understanding of the client's problem.
• identify how these affect the client's thoughts, behaviours, feelings and daily functioning.

Based on the understanding of each client's individual problems the therapist and the client will then work together to identify goals and to agree to a shared treatment plan. The focus of therapy is to enable the client to generate solutions to their problems that are more helpful than their present ways of coping. This often involves the client using the time between therapy sessions to try things out.

Therapy is organised over an agreed number of sessions. The number of sessions needed will differ depending on the nature and severity of a client's problem. Typically, sessions are weekly, last 50 minutes and take place over a period of between 10 to 15 sessions, but this can be significantly shorter or longer. After treatment completion client and therapist usually agree to a limited number of follow-up sessions to maintain the progress achieved.

What sort of problems can CBT help with?

Research has shown it to be an effective form of psychotherapy, particularly for the following:

• Anxiety & Panic Attacks
• Phobias (e.g. agoraphobia, social phobia)
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Depression
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Eating problems
• Sexual and relationship problems
• Child and adolescent problems
• General Health problems
• Chronic Pain
• Habit problems (e.g. tics)
• Anger
• Drug or Alcohol problems
• Schizophrenia and Psychosis
• Problems associated with a learning disability
• Bipolar Disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Sleep Disorders

Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapies can be used on their own or in conjunction with medication, depending on the severity or nature of each client's problem.