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Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

In This Article

History	How does it work?
A typical appointment	What to expect
Timings/ Sessions/ Costs	Is it right for you?

History

Cognitive therapy, often referred to as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy or CBT, is a strand of psychotherapy. Cognitive therapy's roots can be traced back to the late 19th century work of Sigmund Freud and the 20th century methods of psychotherapists such as Carl Rogers. Cognitive therapy methods used today however can be traced back to the 1950s and the work of psychotherapist Albert Ellis.

Ellis developed 'Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy' (REBT) as a way to understand and overcome emotional disturbance. Ellis proposed that people not only get upset by problems, but also form strong views about reality in relation to their perceived beliefs of that problem. If these beliefs are irrational or self-defeating, the result can be unhealthy to their emotional and behavioural function.

Ellis' work was developed further in the 1960s by American psychiatrist Aaron Beck who coined the term 'Cognitive Behaviour Therapy' (CBT). Beck concluded that patients suffering with depression magnified negative thoughts and minimised positive ones. His therapy aimed to alter this distorted way of thinking to change their emotional and behavioural state.

How does it work?

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is a combination of psychotherapy and behavioural therapy. The cognitive therapist focuses on thoughts, beliefs and images (cognitive processes). How a person perceives these cognitive processes reflects their behaviour and how they deal with emotions.

CBT looks to change how people think (the cognitive) and react (the behaviour). By breaking down problems to manageable parts, cognitive therapy makes it easier to understand how those parts are connected and how they affect a person both physically and emotionally.

Cognitive therapy sessions are structured as opposed to other psychotherapy treatments that allow the patient to talk openly about anything. Homework is also an important part of the therapy to identify incidents that provoke a problem and also to monitor progress in dealing with it.

A typical appointment

Be prepared - It is advisable to choose a cognitive therapist who is a member of, or is accredited by, an association or professional body. This ensures your therapy session is carried out in a suitable environment and by someone who has received formal training and ongoing development. Members are also bound to a code of ethics and practice. The main cognitive therapy organisations are listed at the foot of this article.

Before your first appointment, you may be asked to complete a short questionnaire, this is optional but it may help you think about the problems you want to discuss. Consider writing down any questions or concerns you have about the therapy as you may forget to ask them during the session. If you are taking prescription drugs, take them with you or make a note of what they are.

What to expect

Your session will be confidential and take place in a quiet environment. CBT can take place in a group but is usually done on an individual basis. Although cognitive therapy is about the present, expect to spend time in your first session and subsequent sessions examining your past.

The cognitive therapist will begin by asking questions about your problem in order to define it. They may ask how long it's been going on and what steps you have previously made to prevent it. The therapist will try and learn more about you, any personal relationships you have and your work or interests. Be prepared to answer questions about your mental health and any previous problems or family history.

Working with the cognitive therapist, you will work out a treatment plan that lays out the direction of your therapy and what you are expected to do during your treatment. They will then begin discussing your problem breaking it down into manageable parts. This will help with understanding your thoughts, feelings and behaviour and how best to change them.

After discussing how to make changes, your cognitive therapist will set 'homework' for you to put into practise what's been discussed. This may be through writing a diary or a trying out a coping exercise for a specific situation. This is an important part of the process and the results will be analysed at your follow-up appointments.

Should they be needed, your therapist may recommend medication or referral to another specialist. They will discuss this with you at your first appointment and throughout your therapy. Although confidential, there are certain legal exceptions that your therapist will discuss with you and you may also be required to sign an agreement for conducting your sessions.

Timings/ Sessions/ Costs

Cognitive therapy appointments typically last an hour but your first session may last a little longer as your therapist assesses your problem. Expect follow-up appointments to be 45 - 60 minutes long. Your appointment will be structured and time is used efficiently as the therapy looks toward overcoming your problem rather than dwelling on it.

Cognitive therapy costs vary but as a guide expect to pay £30 - £80 for a session depending on your location and practitioner's overheads. It is advisable to check these costs before making an appointment.

Cognitive therapy can last from six weeks to six months and the number of sessions you will need depends upon the issues you have. 6-15 sessions are normal and you will usually attend on a weekly basis. Your cognitive therapist will discuss this with you during your first session.

Is it right for you?

Cognitive behaviour therapy is one of the most effective therapies for conditions where anxiety or depression is the main cause. Cognitive therapy is most beneficial to people who have a specific problem and are looking toward a practical way to solve it.

CBT does not claim to cure physical problems, but it can help provide ways of coping while living with an injury, disease or disorder. Consult with your GP and cognitive therapist about any medical problems or concerns you have as they are trained to recognise what can and cannot be treated with the therapy.

This therapy or modality may help with:

Abandonment	Abuse	Addiction
ADHD	Alcoholism	Amnesia
Anger Management	Anxiety	Bereavement
Bipolar Disorder	Childhood Abuse	Chronic Fatigue
Drug addiction	Eating Disorders	Excessive Sweating
Grief	Habitual Behaviour	Headaches
Hyperhidrosis	Hysteria	Indecisiveness
Insecurity	Insomnia	Low Self Esteem
Obesity	OCD	Panic Attacks
Personal development	Personality disorders	Phobias
Pre Conceptual Health	Rejection	Relationship Problems
Relationship Problems Couples	Relationship Problems Family	Relationship Problems Twins
Self Harm	Sexual Addiction	Sexual Dysfunction
Smoking Addiction	Stress	Suicidal Feelings
Trauma (PTSD)	Weight Management

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Featured Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Practitioners

Bonne Sante Complementary Therapy Centre Brighton Hove	Brackenbury Natural Health Clinic Hammersmith West London
Brian Painter Hypnotherapy Brentwood	bring2mind Hypnotherapy Warfield Maidenhead
C Poncia CBT Counselling Buckingham	Calmpower Hypnotherapy Counselling and Reiki Kempston Bedfordshire
Carla Thompson CBT Rugeley Staffordshire	Carole Cutting Counselling Benfleet Essex
Changes 4 Life NLP Hypnotherapy Reading Berkshire	Chris Lewis Counselling Haringey North London
Chris Sergeant Counselling Psychotherapy Ilford Essex	Christopher Clarkson Hypnotherapy Warrington Cheshire
Clouds Counselling Huddersfield Kirklees	Counselling 4 U Cheshire Little Sutton
Counselling Centre Bracknell Berkshire	Counselling Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Clinical Hypnotherapist Reading
Counselling Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Clinical Hypnotherapist Reading	Counselling Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Clinical Hypnotherapist Reading
Counselling Psychotherapy Network London	Darren Cheek Counselling Waterloo SE London
David Browne Psychotherapy Counselling Salisbury	David Cotterill NLP Life Coaching Brentwood Essex
David Lloyd Hoare Counsellor Preston Paignton	Denise Janet Blake Counselling East Finchley North London
Dr David Purves CBT Counselling Reading Berkshire	Dr Erin Miller Counselling Westminster W1
Dr Joanne Stuart CBT Highgate North London	Dr Michael Millett Hypnotherapy Psychotherapy Lincolnshire Grantham
Dr Nicolette Lawson Hypnotherapy EFT Solihull West Midlands	Efisia Sais Psychotherapy Hypnotherapy Islington North London

Sample Of Practitioners By Location

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy London

About Therapist Qualifications

The British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)

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