CBT was originally developed by the merging of ‘behaviour therapy’ with ‘cognitive therapy.’ Despite the fact that these practises came from different schools of thought they found common ground in focusing on the ‘present.’

CBT presents the understanding, that by changing our way of thinking, we can alleviate the cause of our anxiety, stress and emotional problems. It is based on the premise that emotional distress, feeling and behaviour is affected by the way we think. CBT helps us to understand this by breaking our emotional reactions down into smaller parts. So we become aware of the relationship between the situations we find ourselves in, the thoughts that we have about them and how this makes us feel both emotionally and physically and how this affects the actions we then take.

Most people feel overwhelmed by their feelings and overpowering emotional responses to situations and certain issues. We feel that these are beyond our conscious control. CBT helps you to understand that it is not the event/experience itself that causes us anxiety but how we perceive and react to it.

CBT helps you understand how your thoughts lead/direct you to emotional responses e.g.
“He made me jealous, she made me angry, they made me feel stupid”

The assumption being that the other person was responsible for making you feel that way. Not that this was your habitual emotional response and resulting behaviour.

CBT helps you to examine core beliefs and negative thinking patterns. It focuses on the present and helps identify the processes/mental habits that are maintaining the problem. It aims to discover how your perceptions about yourself influence your wellbeing. To correct distortions in your thinking self-analysis etc and to discover and reduce, the underlying causes that govern behavioural responses or emotional disorders.

CBT is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety and depression. It can help with such issues as co-dependency, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder and addictions.

It is also a benefit in couple relationship therapy helping to make ‘active change’ in how you relate to your partner.

CBT and other Therapies can assist with the recovery of the above anxieties. Please contact me on 01732 453758/07882 369 663 or email enquiries@psychotherapysevenoaks.com for a free half hour introductory consultation.