Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: CBT
CBT is based on the concept that your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions are interconnected, and that ‘negative’ thoughts and feelings can trap you in unhelpful and possibly harmful cycles. For example, if you interpret a situation negatively, you might experience negative emotions, and those bad feelings might lead you to behave in a certain way. CBT aims to help you deal with problems, that can sometimes feel overwhelming, in a more ‘positive’ way by breaking them down into smaller parts. You will be shown how to change these unhelpful patterns to improve the way you feel. Unlike some other talking treatments, you might talk about how your past experiences have affected you, but in the main CBT deals with your current problems rather than focusing on issues from your past. It looks for practical ways to improve your state of mind on a daily basis.
You can find out more about CBT on the British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) website.
