Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

What is CBT?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based psychological therapy that explores the connections between our thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and behaviours.

When we experience difficulties such as anxiety, depression or the effects of traumatic experiences, it is understandable that we develop ways of coping. Sometimes, however, patterns of thinking or behaviour that help in the short term can unintentionally keep difficulties going.

In CBT, we work together to develop an individual understanding of what you are experiencing and what may be maintaining the problem. This understanding then helps us identify where making changes or trying something different may be helpful.

CBT is collaborative and active. Rather than simply talking about difficulties, sessions often involve learning and practising new skills or approaches and trying these between sessions.

What can CBT help with?

CBT is recommended for a range of psychological difficulties. I offer CBT to adults experiencing: 

• Depression and low mood

• Generalised anxiety and excessive worry

• Panic disorder and panic attacks

• Social anxiety

• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Health anxiety

• Specific phobias

Although CBT provides evidence-based approaches for different difficulties, therapy is not simply a set of techniques. We will develop an understanding of your individual experiences and agree together what you would like therapy to focus on. 

What happens in CBT?

The first few sessions are an opportunity for us to develop a shared understanding of the difficulties you are experiencing, how they are affecting your life and what you would like to be different.

Together, we will explore how your difficulties may have developed and what might be keeping them going. This shared understanding — sometimes called a formulation — helps us decide where to focus therapy and which approaches may be most helpful.

We will agree goals for therapy that are meaningful to you. As therapy progresses, we may experiment with different ways of responding to thoughts, emotions, physical sensations or situations. This often includes practising things between sessions so that what you discover in therapy can be applied in everyday life.

We will regularly review how therapy is progressing and adapt our approach where needed.

How many sessions will I need?

The number of sessions varies depending on the difficulties you are experiencing and what you would like help with. We will discuss this together following your initial assessment and review it throughout therapy.

CBT is usually offered as a time-limited therapy, with sessions typically taking place weekly. Some difficulties may respond to a relatively brief course of therapy, while others may benefit from a longer period of treatment.

Is CBT right for me?

You don't need to know whether CBT is the right approach for you before getting in touch.

An initial assessment gives us an opportunity to understand more about the difficulties you are experiencing, what you are hoping for from therapy and whether CBT is likely to be an appropriate approach.

If I don't think the therapy I offer is the most appropriate option for you, I will discuss this openly with you and, where possible, help you consider other sources of support.