What is CBT?

Changing how you feel by changing how you think! Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, is an advanced type of counseling and psychotherapy that offers powerful and practical ways to solve psychological problems such as depression, anxiety disorders and self esteem issues by working on them in partnership with the therapist.rnThe essence of CBT is that how you feel is greatly affected by how you think, ‘cognitive’ meaning ‘the way you think’ (see home page). For example two people can go through the same event, such as the break-up of a relationship, but feel differently about it because they think differently about it. By focusing on how you think (your beliefs), CBT quickly identifies the cause of psychological problems and can help you make changes that bring lasting benefit. CBT is recommended by the HSE and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE Guidelines) in the UK. Based on scientific principles and research, it is the first line treatment for a wide variety of psychological disorders including anxiety and depression. You may have sought CBT yourself, been recommended it by your GP, or been referred to me by your consultant psychiatrist, employer or insurance company. Whichever route you have taken, I am committed to providing you with the very highest standard of clinical care in a comfortable relaxed environment. Time Magazine (20/01/03) has stated that Cognitive Therapy is "quick, practical, goal oriented." It involves three primary activities: a) Education, b) Skill Building, and c) Problem Solving. During treatment, the client actively applies strategies learned to the problems which brought them to therapy. If indicated, Cognitive Therapy is also compatible with the use of prescribed medication. CBT Scientific Research Studies CBT is the best researched of all the psychological treatments. It was developed and applied to depression in the 1970s. There are now very many research studies testifying to its effectiveness. Initially developed for the treatment of depression, a number of treatment protocols have since been developed for the treatment of different anxiety disorders. CBT is now considered more effective than medication in the treatment of anxiety disorders. There is currently a vast amount of exciting research into CBT ongoing in leading universities across the UK and USA. CBT is based on the idea that part of what keeps people depressed is the way they look at the world. So in this view, the pessimism, hopelessness and self-criticism so characteristic of depression are not just side-effects of the disorder. They are central to what makes people depressed and keeps them feeling that way. The treatment therefore focuses on trying to identify and change the ways of thinking (‘cognitive’ factors) and behaving (‘behavioural’ factors) which keep people depressed. rnFor more information visit: www.cbt.ie