Cognitive Behavioural Therapy:
CBT is a type of talking therapy where a therapist helps an individual change
how they think and act; it can treat many different mental health problems (NHS,
2025). It is a recommended treatment for many mental health problems, such as
depression (including postnatal depression), anxiety (including social anxiety,
phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder), post-traumatic stress disorder,
eating disorders, bipolar disorder and personality disorders. It can also help with
other conditions including sleep problems, problems with alcohol and drugs,
long-term pain, IBS and chronic fatigue syndrome. Our thoughts, emotions,
behaviours, and physical feelings are connected – when we change one, the rest
can follow.
Once an individual has been referred for CBT, they will have an assessment with
a therapist to decide what the best treatment is for them. This will be a
discussion about their symptoms and what they hope to get from therapy. The
type of therapy an individual has will depend on why they’re having it and their
symptoms. Ways can include guided self-help, 1-1 sessions with a therapist, or as
part of a group. CBT will usually be between five and fifteen sessions, and it can
be done in person, online, or on the phone.
In a typical CBT session, an individual will talk about situations they find difficult,
and discuss how they make them think, feel and act. Different ways of
approaching this can include questioning unhelpful thoughts and beliefs, and
considering other ways of looking at things, noticing their emotions and physical
feelings without reacting to them, changing what they do, for example doing
activities they have been avoiding. CBT works best when you apply what you’ve
learned to real-life situations. It can involve activities to do outside of sessions
with the therapist; this might include completing worksheets or completing a
diary (Mind, 2024).
CBT helps you uncover the patterns that influence your mood. These automatic
thought cycles can become habitual responses when you’re feeling low or upset.
By identifying these, you can challenge your thinking, regain control over your
emotions, and develop more positive reactions (BABCP, n.d.). CBT can be
completed individually, either through books and worksheets online; this can be
useful if an individual is waiting for treatment or reminds individuals of CBT
techniques they have used in the past (Mind, 2024).
CBT is a type of talking therapy where a therapist helps an individual change
how they think and act; it can treat many different mental health problems (NHS,
2025). It is a recommended treatment for many mental health problems, such as
depression (including postnatal depression), anxiety (including social anxiety,
phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder), post-traumatic stress disorder,
eating disorders, bipolar disorder and personality disorders. It can also help with
other conditions including sleep problems, problems with alcohol and drugs,
long-term pain, IBS and chronic fatigue syndrome. Our thoughts, emotions,
behaviours, and physical feelings are connected – when we change one, the rest
can follow.
Once an individual has been referred for CBT, they will have an assessment with
a therapist to decide what the best treatment is for them. This will be a
discussion about their symptoms and what they hope to get from therapy. The
type of therapy an individual has will depend on why they’re having it and their
symptoms. Ways can include guided self-help, 1-1 sessions with a therapist, or as
part of a group. CBT will usually be between five and fifteen sessions, and it can
be done in person, online, or on the phone.
In a typical CBT session, an individual will talk about situations they find difficult,
and discuss how they make them think, feel and act. Different ways of
approaching this can include questioning unhelpful thoughts and beliefs, and
considering other ways of looking at things, noticing their emotions and physical
feelings without reacting to them, changing what they do, for example doing
activities they have been avoiding. CBT works best when you apply what you’ve
learned to real-life situations. It can involve activities to do outside of sessions
with the therapist; this might include completing worksheets or completing a
diary (Mind, 2024).
CBT helps you uncover the patterns that influence your mood. These automatic
thought cycles can become habitual responses when you’re feeling low or upset.
By identifying these, you can challenge your thinking, regain control over your
emotions, and develop more positive reactions (BABCP, n.d.). CBT can be
completed individually, either through books and worksheets online; this can be
useful if an individual is waiting for treatment or reminds individuals of CBT
techniques they have used in the past (Mind, 2024).
