Why Try Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?

It usually seems to me that more and more people have heard about cognitive behavioural therapy (or CBT), but then that’s what I work in, so maybe there a lot of individuals who haven’t heard of it or don’t know much about CBT and they could find it really helpful. 

There is also a possible mistrust or fear of the unknown. We know what going to the doctor or dentist is like but what actually happens when you see a psychotherapist? What do you get for your money?

A quick answer to the last question is a possible solution or set of solutions to what’s disturbing or upsetting you. The way the two people, client and practitioner, get to work is by completing an assessment. Typically this focuses on the problem itself: when it started, where it came from if possible and questions are asked about what the client wants from the process: their goals, where they want to be, compared to where they are now. 

How this gets worked on is largely agreed between the person and the therapist and it can be surprising how common sense the ‘interventions’ turn out to be. What the therapist brings to the sessions is their expertise, experience and knowledge, for instance being able to identify the best method to use with that particular client for their anxiety, depression/low mood, stress, obsessive compulsive disorder, etcetera.

The therapy takes the length of sessions that the problem requires but therapists are bound by respective governing bodies to deliver therapies professionally and to resolve treatment in a timely manner. While it would be misleading and potentially inaccurate to say how many sessions a course of treatment will take, several visits are typical.

Therapists expect to be able to help you to find your way to a more fulfilling and peaceful way of life after satisfactorily resolving your issues.