CBT stands for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. This is a type of psychological therapy in which the client and practitioner work together to develop a strategy to help deal with behavioural or emotional issues which may be having a negative impact on a person’s life. CBT has been shown to be effective in managing depression, stress, eating disorders and addiction, as well as health problems such as chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine and pain disorders. CBT has been scientifically tested and found to be effective throughout many clinical trials.
You may wonder how CBT differs from counselling. The main difference is in that CBT concentrates more on the present moment and on problem solving skills and tasks, as well as goal setting. Many techniques learnt in CBT can be used for the rest of a person’s life.
The theory behind CBT is that our thoughts about a situation influence our perception. These thoughts often arise spontaneously and strong emotional responses can distort the view of what is actually occurring when someone is distressed. CBT is all about learning to identify and evaluate these “automatic thoughts” and replace them with healthier alternatives. More rational thought patterns lead to feeling more relaxed and able to cope emotionally.
Families can often benefit from the techniques used in CBT and it has proved effective in the treatment of children and adolescents. It can be used for individuals, couples or groups. CBT can tackle a wide range of common problems, such as anger and conflict.
