What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a treatment available from NHS, with the referral from a psychiatric service. There is, however, a long waiting list and it can be hard to get on that list. You can of course choose to see a private therapist instead. CBT is a therapy that is in high demand.

So, how does CBT work? CBT works on the premise that when we have a negative reaction to a situation it is because the meaning we have attached to it causes an automatic conditioned response.

We may behave in an irrational way to a problem and behave in the same way to a similar problem. We don't appear to have learnt from our previous experience, and thus is due to faulty thinking, caused by past experiences, and this is what leads to the automatic response; such as, anger, fear and anxiety.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy identifies faulty thinking, what causes it and addresses it. CBT aims to help you interrupt unhelpful patterns and challenge your thoughts to produce more helpful and rational thinking.

I'm not an expert in CBT; so I will offer up other places you can get information:

• Depression Alliance
• British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) The leading CBT body in the UK, it provides information on CBT and searches for accredited therapists.
• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

Be prepared; CBT is an intensive therapy and aftercare is essential. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is not easy to come by due to long waiting lists; so, I wish you all the best of luck!

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• Therapies guide: let's talk about it (telegraph.co.uk)

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