Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies

Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a widely used and evidence-based form of therapy that helps individuals change unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. It is a structured, goal-oriented, and time-limited approach that involves working collaboratively with a therapist to bring about meaningful and lasting change.

CBT is commonly used to treat a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, stress, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as well as some physical health conditions with psychological components, such as chronic pain or fatigue.

Understanding the Waves of CBT
CBT has evolved over time through three major "waves":

First Wave – Behavioural Therapy
Focuses on observable behaviour and the ways it is learned through interactions with the environment. Techniques such as exposure therapy and reinforcement are often used.

Second Wave – Cognitive Therapy
Introduced the idea that how we think affects how we feel and behave. It uses tools like cognitive restructuring to challenge and change unhelpful or distorted thought patterns.

Third Wave – Mindfulness-Based Approaches
Combines traditional CBT techniques with mindfulness, acceptance, and compassion-focused practices. These include therapies like ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy)