CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

What is CBT?

CBT comes highly recommended by Psychiatrists, Doctors, the Health Professions Council (HPC) the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the NHS. It is now recognised as the treatment of choice for a wide range of mental health issues, particularly Depression, Anxiety disorders, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Eating Disorders.

It is a structured common sense approach which has been scientifically researched and proven again and again to be an effective treatment for mental health problems (with or without medication).

How does it work?

All mental health problems have a tendency to recur throughout life. Whilst medication can help someone over an episode of depression, for example, tablets won't change their thinking patterns for good or help them to deal with the other factors in their life that reinforce the depression (such as relationship difficulties for example) This can be why some people continue taking anti depressants on and off for many years – each time the depression (or problem) recurs they go back on the tablets, or simply stay on the tablets long term.

A course of CBT (usually between 6 - 12 sessions) helps in two ways:

• Helps people through an episode of mental ill health (such as depression) exploring why they may have been prone to depression and the factors that may have triggered it. It helps people feel informed and empowered by understanding how the problem developed in the first place.
• Then, by dealing with the thinking styles, behaviours and other factors that are known to perpetuate and reinforce depression it acts to guard against further episodes of depression (or anxiety or whatever the problem is), to reduce the likelihood, length and intensity of the problem should it occur again. So they can usually recognise and prevent future relapse.

Once learnt some of the information, strategies and so on stay with the person for life.

There is often a several month waiting list for CBT therapy on the NHS and it can be difficult to find a private CBT therapist. CBT therapy  is typically carried out by Psychiatrists, Psychologists or specially trained Psychotherapists either in the NHS or in private psychiatric hospitals such as The Priory.

It is a very practical, common sense, rational approach that helps people take back control and feel less helpless with their problems.