CBT Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (often referred to as ‘CBT’) is a form of psychotherapy (or ‘talk therapy’)that has been proven effective in treating a wide range of psychological (and some physical health) difficulties encountered by adults, young people and children. The core ‘idea’ behind CBT is that our emotional reactions and behaviours are strongly influenced by our cognitions(i.e. our thoughts, beliefs and interpretations about ourselves or the situations we encounter on a daily basis). Different cognitions give rise to different emotions and behavioural responses. This helps explain why people can react differently to the same events.
In practicing CBT, we believe it is helpful to view mental health problems as arising from exaggerated or extreme versions of normal cognitive processes. When you attend therapy within a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy framework, the main focus (most of the time) is on what is happening in the present, and the main concerns of the therapist are on the processes currently maintaining the problem, rather than on what may have led to its development many years ago. That is not to say that what happened in the past is unimportant. What is essential to understand is how what happened in the past currently influences an individual’s life experience.
It is important to understand that CBT is not simply the application of a series of techniques. Nor is it a single therapy.Within the CBT ‘family’, there lies a range of approaches that are utilised to help individuals resolve the difficulties they encounter. Within CBT, we believe we should evaluate theories and treatments as rigorously as possible, using scientific evidence rather than just clinical anecdotes. As a consequence, CBT is ever-changing and the practice of CBT, over years, does not remain a static approach.
CBT works. Due to it’s clear research support, CBT dominates the international guidelines for psychological treatments, making it a first line treatment for many disorders, as noted by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, and the American Psychological Association. Therefore, CBT is indeed the gold standard in phsycotherapy field being included in the major clinical guidelines based on it’s rigorous empirical basis. (‘Why Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is the Current Gold Standard of Psychotherapy, Psychiatry, 29.01.2018; David D; Cristea, 1 Hofman, S.G.)
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