What is CBT?

CBT is an evidence-based therapeutic intervention that affords you the skills to think in a more realistic way, which ultimately aims to change the way you feel. It also gives you a more helpful way to respond to yourself, others and to difficult situations, generally.

What is involved in CBT?

CBT can involve a combination of psychoeducation; talk therapy; structured activities, tools and strategies, such as ‘Thought-Records’.

What is a ‘Thought Record’?

 A thought record is a helpful tool that can be used to help you step back from some of your thoughts and reflect on them. When we are stressed or upset, our thoughts can easily get negative and negative thoughts can automatically take over and dominate our feelings – about ourselves and about life. Sometimes it is possible to distract ourselves from such thoughts or let them go using Mindfulness (‘like a leaf floating on a stream’) and at other times it can be helpful to examine the content of our thoughts more closely by doing a Thought Record. Your psychologist will usually practice them with you for a while in sessions before asking you to do some as home-practice activities.

What CBT is not

It is not “positive thinking”. You are not replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, but rather, taking a more balanced approach to thinking about the situation. Anxiety and depression usually overestimates the likelihood of bad things happening and also overestimates the consequences, so engaging in CBT can sometimes be helpful in addressing these patterns in our thinking.

Is CBT helpful for everyone and every situation?

No, depending on the situation or the nature of the problem, CBT may not always be the most helpful treatment intervention. Your psychologist will have a discussion with you at your initial consultation to explore your specific support needs and goals and will assess your suitability to engaging in CBT. Your psychologist will also suggest other counselling interventions, if required. The good news is that there are so many different counselling interventions, tools and skills so your psychologist will work with you to formulate a plan to suit your specific needs.

If you are interested in learning skills in CBT, please contact us to discuss your support needs and arrange a consultation.