The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) provides independent, evidence-based guidance for the NHS on the most effective, proven treatments. It recommends CBT for many different problems including depression, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, bi-polar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and eating disorders.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, physiology and behaviour are all connected and if we change one of these areas, we can alter all the others. It has a strong focus on current or specific difficulties and how we act and think now. However, sometimes current difficulties are related to things which have happened in the past, so this may also be explored.
The CBT approach is more structured and collaborative than traditional counselling. When feeling low, anxious or upset, we often fall into negative patterns of thinking and responding, which can make us feel worse. CBT teaches clients to identify, evaluate and respond to their negative thoughts. This leads to a change in their thinking, mood and behaviour so they can start to feel better. It is a way of working together with a therapist on mutually agreed goals both during and in between therapy sessions and any techniques learnt over the course of therapy, can continue to be used in daily life following treatment.
Depending on personal choice, a course of CBT can be completed alone or at the same time as taking antidepressant medication. It can be offered in individual sessions or as part of a group.
Structured CBT Therapy groups are run by a minimum of two therapists to educate and support with various difficulties such as social anxiety and depression. Group participation is actively encouraged. When available, groups are normally in-house and restricted in size.
As well as therapy groups, Reflections run CBT psycho-educational groups. These are information groups run by therapists to educate groups on various mental health difficulties. They are not therapy groups and participants are not required to disclose anything about themselves. These groups are normally in-house and group size is restricted to 10. Off-site groups catering for more participants can be arranged.
For more information on CBT see the British Association Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies website (https://babcp.com)