Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

CBT is an evidence-based psychological therapy primarily used to treat depression and anxiety disorders. It can also help to treat eating disorders and other mood disorders. It is the recommended treatment for anxiety and depression according to the NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines.

CBT is centred upon the idea that the way that we feel is affected by the way that we think and behave. CBT helps people to look at the relationship between their thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Working on these can help to make positive changes in your life.

If you are feeling depressed you may start to think that you are worthless and that no one likes you. You may then avoid going out and stop seeing your family and friends. You may begin to feel more depressed and have more negative thoughts about yourself and your future. These thoughts often sound something like "I am useless" or "I will never get better".

CBT helps you to identify these thoughts and cycles and see where you can begin to break out of them.

If you suffer with anxiety, you may think that you are going to become anxious in certain places such as the supermarket or on public transport. This may lead you to avoid these places, which in the short term reduces your anxiety. However, in the long term this can limit the activities that you do, lower your self-esteem, and increase your anxiety levels.

CBT helps you to learn tools and techniques to manage your anxiety symptoms, alongside helping you to face your feared situations. It helps you to develop strategies that you can begin to apply to everyday situations in your life and eventually become your own therapist.