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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is about changing the way a person thinks (i.e. Cognitive) about themselves, the world, situations and a person’s relationship with other people. It evaluates how, what a person does (Behaviour), affects thoughts and feelings. Unlike other forms of psychotherapy, it does not focus on past life experiences, but on the here and now.
If a person has difficulties with pain, fatigue, low self opinion, health and anger CBT can be helpful. There are many mental illnesses that CBT has been used for including; anxiety, depression, bulimia, obsessive compulsive disorder, psychosis, post traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder.
CBT can help a person make sense of overwhelming problems by breaking them down into smaller parts. This makes it easier to see how they are connected and how they affect a person. How one thinks about a problem can affect how a person feels physically and emotionally. It can also alter what one does about it. There are helpful and unhelpful ways of reacting to most situations, depending on how a person thinks about them. CBT can help to break this vicious circle of altered thinking, feelings and behaviour
Sessions can be individual, in groups or using computer programmes. Usually Individual or group programmes will last for 6 to 12 sessions and may be accompanied by medication, where necessary.