Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Understanding, Guidance and Support to Help You Heal and Thrive

What is CBT?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a form of talking therapy based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings and behaviours are interconnected. The approach focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviours that may be causing you distress or impacting your quality of life.

CBT is a practical, action-oriented therapy. During sessions, you’ll learn to identify and understand your negative thoughts and behaviours so you can start challenging and changing them now. You’ll also learn coping strategies and problem-solving skills you can use in the future to help you manage your emotions, negative thoughts and behaviours.

What can CBT help with?

CBT has been found to be effective in treating a wide range of mental health issues including:

  • Depression and low mood
  • Anxiety
  • Excessive and uncontrollable worry (Generalised Anxiety Disorder or GAD)
  • Panic attacks
  • Panic disorder
  • Difficulties with low self-esteem and confidence
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Birth trauma
  • Menopause
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Specific phobias
  • Insomnia
  • Burnout
  • Stress

CBT is also sometimes used to treat people with long-term health conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia and chronic pain. Although CBT cannot cure the physical symptoms of these conditions, it can help people cope with them better.

What To Expect?

CBT is very much a collaborative process. I’ll work closely with you to set goals and track progress. You’ll also be given homework exercises so you can practice new techniques between sessions.

We’ll start each session by agreeing a plan or ‘agenda’ for our time together. This plan will be based on your goals for treatment which we’ll have discussed and agreed during an initial assessment. We’ll also review any homework you were asked to complete.

Then, we’ll work through everything on the session agenda, looking at strategies that can be effective in helping you improve whatever is currently causing you problems. At the end of the session, we’ll review the work we’ve done together and agree any further homework tasks relevant to whatever we’ve covered during your appointment.

The number of sessions needed varies from one person to the next, depending on their individual circumstances, but you can usually expect to have 6-20 sessions. All courses of therapy will be tailored to meet your specific needs. I’ll be able to advise you more accurately following your initial assessment.

I’d love to support you on your journey towards emotional wellbeing.

Each CBT session lasts 50 minutes and is £80. Sessions are available in-person or are delivered remotely via Zoom, subject to availability. There’s a wealth of research that shows online therapy is just as effective, and I’ve been successfully delivering CBT in this way for several years now.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions - CBT

What is CBT?

CBT is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. It’s based on the concept that your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions are interconnected, and that negative thoughts and feelings can trap you in a negative cycle.

CBT aims to help you deal with overwhelming problems in a more positive way by breaking them down into smaller parts. You're shown how to change these negative patterns to improve the way you feel.

How much do sessions cost?
  • CBT (50-60 minutes) 90
  • EMDR (60 minutes) £90
  • EMDR (90 minutes) £135
Will I have to talk about my past?

No. Unlike some talking therapies, CBT focuses on your current problems rather than issues from your past.

What can CBT help with?

CBT is commonly used to treat anxiety and depression, but it can also be used to help people with:

  • bipolar disorder
  • obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • panic disorder
  • phobias
  • post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • sleep problems such as insomnia
  • problems related to alcohol misuse

CBT is also sometimes used to treat people with long-term health conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia and chronic pain. Although CBT cannot cure the physical symptoms of these conditions, it can help people cope better with their symptoms.

What happens during a CBT session?

We’ll start each session by agreeing a plan or ‘agenda’ for our time together. This plan will be based on your goals for treatment which we’ll have discussed and agreed during your initial assessment. We will also review any ‘homework’ or tasks you were asked to complete between sessions.

We’ll then work through everything on the session agenda, looking at strategies that can be effective in helping you improve whatever is currently causing you problems. At the end of the session, we’ll review the work we’ve done together and agree any further homework tasks relevant to whatever we’ve covered during your appointment.

What do you mean by ‘homework’?

CBT is very much a two-way street. You get out what you put in. This is why homework tasks can be so useful in helping you reach your goals more quickly.

Imagine you were having a piano lesson once a week, but never practicing between each one. It would take quite a while to become skilled at playing, wouldn’t it? If you had a lesson every week and practiced every day, you’d see much faster results. The same goes for CBT and homework tasks. It’s a way to practice and integrate the skills and techniques you’re learning in each session.    

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