What is CBT?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a structured, evidence based treatment which highlights the connections between thoughts, emotions and behaviours.
It is a talking therapy, a collaborative process often fostering a strong bond of trust between therapist and client.
It enables a patient to face, recognise and change unhelpful thought patterns, and to understand the impact of thoughts and reactions in everyday situations. This will help them address and deal with these issues more efficiently and comfortably.
Unlike other talking therapies, CBT is designed to help current challenges, rather than de-constructing the impacts of past events.
CBT has also been used effectively in the management of long term physical health conditions, such as chronic pain and tinnitus. It is a concise, compassionate and powerful way to improve mental and physical well-being.
What conditions do we treat with CBT?
Our experienced therapists at Talkmind use CBT to treat conditions such as depression, anxiety and feelings of insecurity. Also, CBT can help with:
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Bi-Polar Disorder
- Phobias e.g. the fear of flying
- Sleeping difficulties
- Stress
- Low self-esteem and anger
Phobias are often down-played in popular culture and casual conversation. However, if you have one, you will know they can be extremely challenging and hard to cope with. Supervised with sensitivity, CBT has been shown to be very effective in the treatment of many mental health difficulties.
How does CBT work?
Through a series of conversations and questions, clients learn essential skills and set achievable goals, differentiating between short and long-term objectives.
This fosters personal growth and resilience. By the end of treatment, our clients are equipped with practical tools and strategies to take away, enabling them to continue to build healthier habits.
An example of this is explained here: You send a text to a friend saying you cannot meet them as agreed. They do not reply.Â
Pre-CBT: Your natural immediate response is, ‘Oh no, I must have upset them’.
With CBT tools: You can learn to ask questions that challenges this assumption. such as, "What is the evidence that this is true?", "Why am I thinking that?" or even, "Could there be other explanations for this?"
CBT is a short-term form of therapy, with between 5 and 20 sessions required for the client.
CBT can be offered as a one-to-one treatment, or as a group therapy, where our clients interact with therapist and are involved, under therapist supervision, in the process of helping other patients.
Why would I be encouraged to practice CBT?
CBT can be a calm and swift way to help you challenge your anxieties or unhelpful behaviours. The tools it offers you can be used for life, offering a value beyond the treatment.
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Signs of Mania
- Lesser need for sleep or an inability to sleep (insomnia)
- Racing mind
- Feeling as if you have consumed too much caffeine or taken an illicit substance, such as cocaine
- Extreme self-confidence and self-belief that is out of the ordinary
- Lack of control or a fear of losing control
- High creative output
- Being extremely talkative, often feeling unable to stop chatting
- Dramatically increased sex drive
- Behaving recklessly
- Having extravagant ideas that are unrealisticÂ
- Behaving impulsively, for example booking a plane ticket last minute in search of an adventure
- Disregard for one’s safety, perhaps engaging in risky or irresponsible activities, such as gambling, spending sprees or unsafe sexÂ
- Anxiety
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia