Thousands of research trials over the last 50 years have found Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to be helpful for broad-ranging problems, including anxiety, depression, addictions, eating disorders, insomnia, anger, and stress management, as well as many other forms of emotional and behavioural issues. CBT is also known to improve general psychological functioning and subjective well-being. It is also known to be helpful across the lifespan from children, adolescents, adults, to older adults, as well as with couples and families. CBT is the primary psychological treatment offered at our practice, as:
- There is a robust evidence-base to support the effectiveness of this intervention
- It is flexible, individualised and accordingly adaptable for a wide range of individuals
The premise of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is that our thoughts about a situation affect how we feel (emotionally and physically) and how we behave in that situation. CBT works to help us notice and change problematic thinking styles and/or unhelpful behavioural patterns so we can feel better. It is the understanding that it is not the situation itself which necessarily causes the distress, but the way in which we interpret (think about) it. Broadly speaking, CBT involves both ‘cognitive therapy’ and ‘behaviour therapy’.
The cognitive element of CBT refers to our thoughts self-talk and core beliefs about ourselves (“I’m not good enough”, or “I’m not okay”), other people (“they are friendly” or “they’re not to be trusted”) and the world around us (“the future is bright” or “this world is unsafe”). How our thoughts affect our feelings is as such: the more threatening our thoughts (“I’m going to be judged”), the more anxious we will feel. The more hopeless we believe the future is (“there’s no point”), the more depressed we will feel.
The behavioural element of CBT refers mostly to our unhelpful behavioural patterns in response to the problematic thinking styles. This typically comes in the form of avoidance which may feel good in the short-term. Other ways people may cope is to become overly controlling towards others or their situation, which makes them more powerful in the short-term. Ultimately these cause more difficulties in the longer term.
CBT can be seen as a collaborative, problem-solving, educational style of therapy that prioritises the present. Each cognitive-behavioural technique is taught in a simple, relatable and structured manner for the client to best understand and be able to practice new skills in the “real world” outside the therapy room.
One of the strengths of CBT is that it aims not just to help people overcome the symptoms that they are currently experiencing, but it also aims to teach the person new skills and strategies that they can apply to future problems.
