What is cognitive behavioural therapy?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is often abbreviated to CBT. CBT is a type of talking therapy, which looks at our thoughts and our behaviours. It explores “what we think” and the way we respond to those thoughts. It helps us to tune in to “what we do” and how this impacts our physical and emotional well-being. CBT works on the basis that by becoming more aware of how we automatically respond to our thoughts and our emotions, we can choose to vary or change our responses in ways that can positively affect our lives.
CBT is not about receiving advice nor is it just about thinking positively. It encourages curiosity and self-compassion, whilst being collaborative at all times. It explores current challenges in detail and recognises struggles. It aims for clients to increase their personal awareness, given the environment in which they live. It helps clients to identify who and what matters to them, and to set goals in small steps towards those values. It encourages clients to be active in seeking and making choices that will lead them in their chosen direction, whilst managing any difficult thoughts, feelings or sensations that might be appear.
CBT sessions offer skills and new perspectives that research has shown to be helpful over a wide range of difficulties. They support clients to identify new ways of approaching situations and then trying them out between sessions. There is no "pass or fail" with any outcome, whatever happens teaches us something. CBT aims to find and use client’s strengths and combine them with new strategies for coping. In time, and with practise, these can become a different way of life and progress can continue after therapy has finished, as clients become their own teachers.
CBT is not about receiving advice nor is it just about thinking positively. It encourages curiosity and self-compassion, whilst being collaborative at all times. It explores current challenges in detail and recognises struggles. It aims for clients to increase their personal awareness, given the environment in which they live. It helps clients to identify who and what matters to them, and to set goals in small steps towards those values. It encourages clients to be active in seeking and making choices that will lead them in their chosen direction, whilst managing any difficult thoughts, feelings or sensations that might be appear.
CBT sessions offer skills and new perspectives that research has shown to be helpful over a wide range of difficulties. They support clients to identify new ways of approaching situations and then trying them out between sessions. There is no "pass or fail" with any outcome, whatever happens teaches us something. CBT aims to find and use client’s strengths and combine them with new strategies for coping. In time, and with practise, these can become a different way of life and progress can continue after therapy has finished, as clients become their own teachers.