What Is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy / CBT?
CBT or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can be described as a method of helping you to first understand and then change patterns of thought and behaviour that are unwanted and disturbing. These thought patterns might involve 'catastrophising' when even small issues can become big problems; or 'mind-reading' where we assume others are thinking negatively about us.
The method of choice now within the NHS to help deal with issues of anxiety is to refer to CBT Therapists.
CBT works by focusing on the emotional and behavioural difficulties that are in your life now - that is, in the present. Even though it is widely understood that past experiences contribute to current problems, CBT does not tend to look backwards in time to these sources.
During the sessions, you are shown how to examine your feelings; and to learn to differentiate between 'realistic' and 'unrealistic' thoughts. There are a variety of exercises that you are asked to perform throughout the programme - mainly as 'homework' - which gradually instil new thought process and behavioural changes. It is this active involvement that helps these changes to take place, leading to a greater sense of control over unwelcome thought patterns.
Much of the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy homework is based around reading certain passages, and then practising these new approaches regularly. You will be expected to perform these tasks on a daily basis, and I will often recommend further reading too. This greatly aids the understanding of the your own thought processes; and leads to an awareness of how our own 'inner voice' can be used to boost self-esteem and confidence rather than criticise and belittle.
