Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) combines cognitive and behavioural therapies, and involves changing the way you think (cognitive) and how you respond to these thoughts (behaviour). CBT focuses on the 'here and now' instead of focusing on the cause of the issue, and breaks overwhelming problems into smaller parts to make them easier to deal with. These smaller parts can be described as thoughts, emotions, physical feelings and actions. Each of these has the ability to affect the other, e.g. the way you think about things can affect how you feel emotionally and physically, and ultimately how you behave.
CBT is based on the principle that individuals learn unhelpful ways of thinking and behaving over a long period of time. However, identifying these thoughts and how they can be problematic to feelings and behaviours can enable individuals to challenge negative ways of thinking, leading to positive feelings and behavioural changes. It is possible for the therapy to take place on a one-to-one basis, with family members or even as a group depending on the issue and how the individual feels most comfortable.
CBT can be useful for dealing with issues such as:
- anger
- anxiety
- depression
- drug or alcohol problems
- eating disorders
- obsessive-compulsive disorder
- phobias
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- Sexual and relationship problems
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