Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic modality that employs techniques for clients to draw upon in an effort to change certain thoughts (cognitions) or actions (behaviour). The goal is to break down the particular difficulties you may be experiencing so that they become more manageable by changing patterns of thought or behaviour that you may be struggling with.
One of the main principles of CBT is that our thoughts, feelings, behaviours and physical sensations are intimately connected and that by changing unhelpful or negative thoughts or actions, we can improve the way we feel. CBT is very much focussed on how you are feeling in the present moment, though because the practitioners at Psychology Sussex are trained in several different therapeutic modalities they will be happy to explore with you – if you are comfortable to do so - how it is that certain events or experiences in your past may be having negative consequences for you in the here and now.
CBT has been shown to be very effective for a great number of common difficulties such as:
- Addictions
- Anxiety
- Bereavement
- Fluctuations in mood or Bipolar
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- OCD
- Phobias
- Psychosis
- Stress
- Trauma / Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
CBT can also be effective for people with long-term health problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Whilst not a treatment for the physical symptoms of these sorts of conditions, CBT can be effective in helping people to cope with and reducing the distress of symptoms.
It is important to note that part of CBT will require a commitment to certain activities or tasks in between your sessions – this is often referred to as “homework”. CBT is not ‘done’ to people but is a process and as such requires you to commit to trying some of these activities in order to try and improve the way you feel. Of course this may be more or less difficult at various times which is why at Psychology Sussex we offer a non-judgemental approach and will explore with you how it is we can make things more manageable with a view to ultimately improving how you feel.
If you would like to discuss whether you think CBT may be of benefit to you then do not hesitate to contact our office to discuss things further.
