Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
A practical, collaborative therapy for understanding and changing the patterns that keep difficulties going.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a structured and collaborative therapy. It is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and behaviour are closely connected, and that when we are struggling these can become a cycle that keeps us stuck.
CBT is one of the most widely researched psychological therapies and is recommended in national NICE guidance for the treatment of a range of difficulties, including anxiety, depression, OCD and PTSD. I am accredited by the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapists (BABCP) and hold additional specialist CBT training with a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London.
What CBT involves
- Working together to understand how your difficulties developed and what keeps them going
- Agreeing clear goals, so that we both know what we are working towards
- Noticing the thoughts, images, body sensations and behaviours that make up the cycle
- Trying out new ways of responding, step by step, in your day-to-day life
- Practising skills between sessions, so that change happens beyond the therapy room
- Planning ahead, so that you can keep your progress and know what to do if difficulties return
Who CBT can help
CBT can help with a wide range of difficulties, including anxiety and panic, low mood, obsessive compulsive difficulties, the effects of trauma, perfectionism and stress. It is not about ‘thinking positively’ or being told what to do. It is about understanding your own experience and building skills you can use for yourself long after therapy ends.
How I work with CBT
I tailor CBT to you, rather than following a fixed script. We agree the pace and focus together, and I adapt the structure and style of sessions to suit how you think and learn, including if you are neurodivergent. Where it helps, I draw on other approaches alongside CBT, such as Compassion Focused Therapy. We may also draw more deeply on your personal history and past experiences rather than solely staying in the here and now.
Related areas of support
Take the first step
Contact me here to find out more information or to arrange a free consultation.