When does CBT help?
CBT has been known to help with many different types of problems. These include: anxiety, depression, panic, phobias, stress, bulimia, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and psychosis. CBT may also help if you have difficulties with anger, a low opinion of yourself or physical health problems, like pain or fatigue.
How does it work?
CBT can help you to make sense of overwhelming problems by breaking them down into smaller more manageable parts. This makes it easier to see how they are connected and how they affect you.
E.g.: A Situation - a problem, event or difficult situation.
From this can follow:
Thoughts
Emotions
Physical feelings
Actions
Emotions
Physical feelings
Actions
Each of these areas can affect the others. How you think about a problem can affect how you feel physically and emotionally. It can also alter what you do about it.
The work
With the therapist, you break each problem down into its separate parts. To help this process, your therapist may ask you to keep a diary. This will help you to identify your individual patterns of thoughts, emotions, bodily feelings, and behaviours. Together you will look at your thoughts, feelings and behaviours to work out:
- If they are unrealistic or unhelpful
- How they affect each other, and you.
The therapist will then help you to work out how to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.
- If they are unrealistic or unhelpful
- How they affect each other, and you.
The therapist will then help you to work out how to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.
10 facts you need to know about CBT
1. CBT is a psychotherapy treatment that takes a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving.
2. CBT can be used as a short term intervention or applied over a longer period.
3. CBT has been researched more than any other psychotherapeutic model.
4. CBT is supported by substantial evidence showing its effectiveness in the treatment of a wide range of mental health problems.
5. CBT can treat a range of anxiety disorders, depression, addiction, relationship problems, sleep problems, chronic pain and chronic fatigue problems.
6. CBT is goal orientated and outcome focused.
7. CBT draws on a range of cognitive, behavioural, mindfulness and relaxation techniques.
8. CBT is collaborative, fun and adaptable to the individual's needs.
9. CBT focuses on how you constructively and healthily react to events rather than trying to change that which can’t be changed.
10. CBT is designed ultimately to help people learn techniques to work through their own problems without becoming reliant on therapy
2. CBT can be used as a short term intervention or applied over a longer period.
3. CBT has been researched more than any other psychotherapeutic model.
4. CBT is supported by substantial evidence showing its effectiveness in the treatment of a wide range of mental health problems.
5. CBT can treat a range of anxiety disorders, depression, addiction, relationship problems, sleep problems, chronic pain and chronic fatigue problems.
6. CBT is goal orientated and outcome focused.
7. CBT draws on a range of cognitive, behavioural, mindfulness and relaxation techniques.
8. CBT is collaborative, fun and adaptable to the individual's needs.
9. CBT focuses on how you constructively and healthily react to events rather than trying to change that which can’t be changed.
10. CBT is designed ultimately to help people learn techniques to work through their own problems without becoming reliant on therapy
