Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
What is CBT?
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a short-term, evidence-based talking therapy focused on present-day problems. It is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a highly effective treatment for a wide range of common mental health problems.
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CBT takes a structured, practical approach to help people understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are interconnected. It seeks to identify unhelpful patterns of thinking and responding that may inadvertently be causing or maintaining depression and anxiety.
Lorraine then helps you to learn specific techniques to challenge negative and anxious thoughts, practice more helpful alternative behaviours, and gradually confront situations that trigger distress. This process helps to break cycles of negative emotional and behavioural responses, allowing for significant improvements in mood and daily functioning.
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What happens in a CBT session?
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At the start of therapy, we collaboratively develop a formulation. This is a diagram illustrating how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours interact within the context of your problem. This formulation then guides the collaborative treatment plan we develop together.
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Each session focuses on developing and practising skills to help you make the changes you wish to achieve. You'll have the opportunity to practise these as homework and provide feedback on their effectiveness at the next session.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Who might benefit from CBT?
CBT can be used to treat a wide array of mental health conditions, including:
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Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) (problematic worry)
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Social Anxiety, Performance Anxiety
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Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia
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Specific Phobias
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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Depression
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Body Dysmorphia
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Eating disorders: Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder
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Low self-esteem, Imposter Syndrome
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Clinical Perfectionism
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Hair pulling (Trichotillomania) and skin picking
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Stress management and coping skills
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Anger management
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Sleep issues
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Long-term health conditions such as IBS and ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
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Difficulties with emotional regulation and distress tolerance.
How many CBT sessions will I likely need?
The duration varies depending on your individual needs and the complexity of the issue. Many clients experience significant progress within 6 to 20 sessions, but this is always discussed and agreed upon collaboratively.
What do you mean by a 'formulation'?
The formulation is a personalized diagram we create together at the start of therapy. It helps us map out how your thoughts, emotions, body sensations, and behaviours are interconnected in relation to your specific problem, providing a clear roadmap for our treatment plan.
What will the homework involve?
'Homework' in CBT refers to practical tasks or exercises you'll practice between sessions. These are designed to help you apply the skills and insights learned in therapy to your daily life, reinforcing new ways of thinking and behaving for lasting change.
Can CBT help with complex or long-standing issues?
While CBT is known for treating common mental health problems, its structured approach can also be adapted effectively for more complex or long-standing issues. We explore how current patterns maintain your difficulties, providing tools for change regardless of how long the problem has been present.