Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a short-term, practical, solution-focused form of therapy combining techniques that will help you to confront and correct biases and problems in the ways you think, and feel, and to arm you with strategies and tools to use in the future.
CBT can last anywhere between six and 30 sessions depending on the particular problems and needs of the client.
The CBT therapist works collaboratively with the client to help them to identify dysfunctional patterns of thoughts and behaviours and replace them with more suitable techniques and ideas. This helps the client to become their own therapist, so that when they face difficult situations in the future, after the end of therapy, they are able to successfully tackle them alone.
Although CBT therapists do not entirely disregard the past and causes of the client’s problems, the focus is very much on the present and on what is maintaining the issue. It is very much based on the tenet that we cannot change our past, but we can change the way we deal with things in the present to shape a more positive future.
Because CBT focuses primarily on present-day difficulties and thought patterns, it might not be as affective for anyone struggling with long-term issues, or who believes that their problems may have taken root in childhood.
What can CBT help with?
- Generalised anxiety
- Social anxiety
- Health anxiety
- Performance anxiety
- Anger
- Fibromyalgia
- IBS
- Phobias
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Insomnia
- Menopause symptom management
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
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What happens in CBT?
You will work with your therapist to identify your thoughts, feelings, and associated behaviours. You will then work together to find ways that you can successful change these in order to live a life more aligned with what you want.
Your therapist might suggest worksheets or homework to be completed between sessions. In order to get the most out of CBT, you really need to be able to engage with working in this kind of way. If you don't think it's for you, then CBT might not be the right kind of therapy for you.
From our Welldoing therapists
CBT therapist Louise Carroll says: "If you are looking for a therapy that follows a logical and strategic process to help you move forward and change the emotions that are holding you back, then CBT is a good option to explore. Unlike traditional psychoanalytic therapy, which focuses more on the past, CBT addresses what is happening now. It takes past events and influences into account to help understand why you are experiencing emotional problems, but focuses on creating solutions and strategies to bring about long-term change. In fact the philosophy learned can be applied throughout your life to any situations. In effect, you can become your own therapist.
Hence CBT is a therapy for modern times, encouraging you to take responsibility for your feelings, empowering you with emotional awareness, and providing subtle, yet effective ways to cope with life’s challenges."
Training as a cognitive behavioural therapist
Training as a CBT psychotherapist takes four years. CBT training will be at least the equivalent of a postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma or Masters’ degree.
All members of the Welldoing directory are verified annually as members of reputable professional associations.
If you are looking for a therapist with specific CBT training, please filter by 'BABCP' in the 'Associations' filter on our search page.
Relevant organisations
Last updated October 2024
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