Cognitive
Behavioural Therapy is one of many forms of understanding and
managing people's problems. As the name implies CBT focuses on
how disfunctional thinkng (cognition) and behaviour can lead to
psychological problems.
CBT works on the understanding that it is what we think about
negative life events and situations that causes us to become unhealthily
affected by them, not solely the events and and situations themselves.
For example, when faced with the same negative event such as being
cut up by another car on the road. Different people are likely
to have different thoughts about this event and the person driving
the other car, which is likely to produce varied reactions. This
also applies in more severe life events.
The
CBT model generally focusses on five key areas of experience to
assess people's problems. The areas that a cbt therapist will
ask you for information about are:
1.
Thoughts or beliefs
2.
Physical feelings
3.
Emotions or moods
4.
Actions or behaviour
5.
The situations or events that trigger the first four factors.
The
benefits of cognitive behavioural therapy are extremely well researched
and supported. This is why Cbt is recommended by the department
for health and the national intitute for health and clinical excellence
(NICE). It is also the main treatment that most general practioners
refer to when faced with psychological problems.