CBT aims to directly target distressing symptoms, reduce distress, re-evaluate thinking and promote helpful behavioural responses by offering problem-focussed and skills-based treatment interventions.    Due to its practical nature, CBT is particularly effective in the treatment of stress, anxiety, depression, OCD, eating disorders, self harm and is the National Health Service’s treatment of choice in these areas. Sessions are normally focused on the goal you want to achieve. This means more work can be done in shorter spaces of time.  It is particularly good if you want an overall understanding of your difficulties or need help with a single issue.

How well does it work? There is vast clinical evidence to show CBT’s effectiveness in easing symptoms of various health and mental health problems. Research studies show that a course of CBT is just as effective as medication in treating depression and certain anxiety disorders. CBT has long-term benefits, as learnt techniques can be used for the rest of your life to help to keep symptoms at bay. What might a session look like?   Following the initial assessment, first sessions usually include time to develop a shared understanding of the problem and how your thoughts, ideas, feelings, attitudes, and behaviours affect your day-to-day life. We would then agree together a goal for therapy and a rough treatment plan to work towards.   You are advised to take an active part in your recovery, and would be encouraged to continue working on your problem in between sessions, either by keeping a diary, putting a new behaviour into practice, or doing some of your own reading and research. The more ground you can cover, the quicker you will begin to feel better!         These books are a great introduction to CBT and some basic techniques: Cognitve Behavioural Therapy for Dummies; Rhena Branch and Rob Wilson Mind Over Mood, Christine Padeski and Denis Greenberger   You can find out more about CBT by following the links bellow: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy http://www.babcp.com/ http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Cognitive-Behaviour-Therapy-(CBT).htm