What is CBT
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
CBT is a scientifically proven therapy that aims to target your own thoughts, feelings and behaviours that appear to be preventing the possibility of change within.
It’s most commonly used to treat anxiety and depression, but can be useful for other mental and physical health problems.
The highly structured nature of CBT means it can be provided in different formats, including in groups, self-help books and online
How CBT works
CBT is based on the concept that your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions are interconnected, and that negative thoughts and feelings can trap you in a negative cycle. CBT aims to help you deal with overwhelming problems in a more positive way by breaking them down into smaller parts.
You’re shown how to change these negative patterns to improve the way you feel. Unlike some other talking treatments, CBT deals with your current problems, rather than focusing on issues from your past. It looks for practical ways to improve your state of mind on a daily basis.
Uses for CBT
CBT has been shown to be an effective way of treating a number of different mental health conditions.
In addition to depression or anxiety disorders, CBT can also help people with:
- bipolar disorder
- borderline personality disorder
- eating disorders – such as anorexia and bulimia
- obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- panic disorder
- phobias
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- psychosis
- schizophrenia
- sleep problems – such as insomnia
- problems related to alcohol misuse