What is cognitive behavioural therapy?

 

What is cognitive behaviour therapy?

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment approach for a range of mental and emotional health issues, including anxiety and depression.

CBT aims to help you identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and to learn practical self-help strategies. These strategies are designed to bring about immediate positive changes in your quality of life.

CBT can be good for anyone who needs support to challenge unhelpful thoughts that are preventing them from reaching their goals or living the life they want to live.

CBT aims to show you how your thinking affects your mood. It teaches you to think in a less negative way about yourself and your life. It is based on the understanding that thinking negatively is a habit that, like any other habit, can be broken.

When CBT is useful

CBT is used to treat a range of psychological problems including:

• anxiety
• anxiety disorders such as social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder
• depression
• low self-esteem
• irrational fears
• hypochondria
• substance misuse, such as smoking, drinking or other drug use
• problem gambling
• eating disorders
• insomnia
• marriage or relationship problems
• certain emotional or behavioural problems in children or teenagers.

Using CBT to treat anxiety

Everyone feels anxious sometimes. Anxiety serves as a means of protection and can increase your performance in stressful situations. For example, the rush of anxiety that often occurs before a job interview or a big race can enhance your performance.

But for some people the feeling of anxiety is more general. This means that you always feel on alert or fearful no matter what activity you are doing. This can be extremely distressing and get in the way of your daily life.

If your level of anxiety begins to interfere with your ability to function, it is important that you begin to learn some skills for coping with these anxious feelings. This is where CBT can help. It focuses on changing patterns of thinking and beliefs that are associated with, and trigger, anxiety.

Using CBT to treat depression

People with depression can have ongoing negative feelings about themselves, other people and the world around them. This negative thinking pattern can become automatic so that you don't notice when your judgement is irrational or unfair on yourself.

CBT can help people with depression by giving you tools to challenge the negative thoughts and override them with more realistic and positive thought processes.

CBT is also used to help many more psychological problems. In some cases, other forms of therapy used at the same time may be recommended for best results. Talk to your doctor for further information and advice.