Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Are you stuck in negative thought patterns? When things go wrong in your life, it’s easy to internalise the blame and get trapped in a downward spiral of negative thinking that can leave you feeling anxious, depressed and exhausted. This is where Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can really help.
How does Cognitive Behavioural Therapy work?
CBT focuses on problems and difficulties that are experienced in the here and now, unlike other forms of therapy that focus on issues that are rooted in past experiences.
It is based on the theory that it’s not external events that upset you but rather the meaning and beliefs that you have attached to them. Holding on to the same thought and behavioural patterns without the ability to see alternative explanations may cause your mental health to suffer. It can seriously affect your quality of life, work and relationships.
Cognitive behavioural therapy combines elements of cognitive therapy and behavioural therapy. In simple terms, the cognitive element looks at how your thoughts can create your feelings and mood, while the behavioural therapy part examines the relationship between your behaviours and thoughts.
CBT techniques, combined with Leone Centre’s overall integrative approach, will help you learn to recognise negative thoughts and find alternative ways to think about problematic situations. Together, we can build the foundation to free ourselves from the cycle of unhealthy and limiting patterns of thoughts and behaviour so we feel happier in ourselves.
What can Cognitive Behavioural Therapy help me with?
According to the government’s NICE guidelines, cognitive behavioural therapy works well for a number of mental health issues involving anxiety and depression, while numerous studies have shown that CBT works well and is an effective therapeutic approach available for a wide range of conditions, including;
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Depression
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Phobias
- Stress
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Eating disorders
- Anger problems
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Relationship problems
How many Cognitive Behavioural Therapy sessions do I need?
While it is by no means a ‘quick fix’ solution, counselling that focuses on CBT tends to be shorter-term unless there are further issues that you wish to address. One of the greatest advantages of CBT and a solution-focused approach is that you can use the tools learnt during therapy to help you in future situations to prevent escalating spirals of negative thought.
As with all psychotherapy and counselling, the number of sessions you need – whether at one of Leone Centre’s London locations or via online counselling – depends on your presenting issues. It’s best to discuss how many weekly sessions you need at your first consultation.
What does CBT at the Leone Centre involve?
CBT is a structured, interactive therapy approach that uses explorative questions and a range of exercises and behavioural experiments. Here at the Leone Centre in London, our experienced integrative therapists will use CBT and solution-focused techniques and work with you to understand problems from a new perspective and develop effective strategies to improve how you feel.
Your therapist will help you make sense of overwhelming problems by breaking them down into ‘bite size’ pieces to make them easier to tackle. If you can see how different pieces of the jigsaw puzzle fit together, it’s easier to understand how they affect you physically and emotionally and how they guide your actions.
It may be helpful to keep a diary to write down your thoughts, emotions, feelings and actions, which can be used in sessions together with your therapist to see if they are connected, unrealistic or unhelpful.
As part of your therapy, you may be given exercises that you can practise at home and in everyday life. These could be ways you can question upsetting thoughts when they arise and replace them with more helpful ones or recognise when you are about to take a negative action and choose to take a positive action instead.
CBT in London
Leone Centre has an experienced and passionate team of therapists. It offers CBT techniques, within the integrative approach, for all kinds of conditions, including stress, depression, anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, anger management, work/career issues and much more.
If you are ready to make some changes in your life and are thinking about embarking on a course of CBT-focused therapy sessions in London, please get in touch. We offer cognitive behavioural therapy within our integrative approach.
CBT FAQs
How does CBT work?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy sessions focus on developing frameworks and ways designed to help manage challenges and behaviours.
CBT underlines the need to identify, challenge, and change how a person views a situation.
CBT focuses on present thoughts and beliefs, whereas some other forms of therapy focus on looking into the past to understand current feelings.
Is CBT better than other therapeutic approaches?
Deciding on Cognitive Behavioural therapy or other types of therapy is dependent on the issues one may be having and their personal therapy preference. CBT will be better than other therapeutic approaches for specific issues such as anger issues. In contrast, mindful therapy will be a better option for issues such as coming to terms with childhood trauma.
Citations
The Science and Practice of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Springer Publishing Connect
