Cognitive Behavioural Therapy {CBT} is an approach to counselling which focuses on the connection between your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It introduces tools and techniques to help you understand how old unhelpful ways of thinking may be influencing your mood and how your response to these thoughts and emotions may be unknowingly perpetuating the negative cycles. 

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CBT is often focused on the present and sessions involve exploring current difficulties and how they are affecting your life day-to-day. Depending on the nature of your difficulties it can be helpful to explore past experiences, perhaps when and why maladaptive coping strategies were developed or unhealthy relationships that have impacted on your self esteem, but this will be decided collaboratively during treatment planning. As a therapist it is not my role to diagnose mental health conditions this would be the job of a GP, Psychiatrist or Psychologist. However a diagnosis is not required to engage in or benefit from therapy. Many clients put off coming to therapy because they wrongly assume their problems aren't BIG enough, but therapy can be useful for self development, setting new goals or helping to overcome barriers to success, not only for more serious mental health concerns. 

 

CBT isn't a passive process and involves lots of collaboration between us. Through discussions, psycho education, CBT techniques and homework we will uncover the route of your difficulties and introduce new ways to overcome them. 

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I offer an initial free telephone consultation to discuss any queries you may have. This gives us the opportunity to check that we are a good fit and that I am able to offer you the type of support you are looking for. 

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First appointment

The first session will be an initial consultation. This involves gathering important information about you through a structured assessment, this can feel a little formal at first but it ensures that we can create a treatment plan that is effective and that I have the necessary information to keep you safe. We will complete some questionnaires if these have not been sent out beforehand to give us a baseline and assess different areas of your well being. We will explore what's brought you to therapy and set goals for our work together. 

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