Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Benefits & Information
What is CBT, Counselling & EMDR?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a type of structured talking therapy. The main aim of therapy is to reduce your distress by guiding you to identify unhelpful habits and patterns of thinking to help you resolve your difficulties, achieve your goals and gain your desired quality of life. Your therapist will guide you through the process, the aim being that you will learn a whole new set of coping skills and strategies that you can continue to apply, once the sessions have ended.
Counselling Psychotherapy is a form of talking therapy, but is a little less structured than CBT. Counselling/Psychotherapy tends to be more about the process, and takes in to consideration past events, and the impacts these might be having on your mood, self-concept, or relationship styles.
EMDR stand for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. EMDR is a unique, non-traditional form of psychotherapy designed to diminish negative feelings associated with memories of traumatic events. Unlike most forms of talk therapy, EMDR focuses less on the traumatic event itself and more on the disturbing emotions and symptoms that result from the event.
CBT Can Help With:
Low mood & depression:
This may be experienced as low mood, loss of energy, motivation and diminished interest in daily life and activities. In addition this can lead to sleeping problems, problems with food and appetite it can also reduce concentration. People may become irritable, struggle with short term memory and at times may even experience ideas of harming themselves. Depression can be triggered by a variety of life events such as bereavement, loss, redundancy, adjustments to life events and associated trauma.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Sudden and upsetting life events such as a road traffic accident, abuse, rape or assault may have effects even once the event has passed. At times you may experience flashbacks and nightmares of the sudden and upsetting event, making it difficult for you to cope with your daily life. CBT and EMDR are recommended to help you process such distressing symptoms and events.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Are you checking locks, washing hands, counting and identifying with numbers, chanting rituals in your head? Do you experience unpleasant unwanted intrusive thoughts, that you have trouble getting rid of? Any of these can be but a few of the symptoms of OCD which can disrupt your life, impact on day to day functioning and affect those around you.
Panic Attacks
Do you often find yourself experiencing physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, increased heart rate, feeling weak, faint, sick or dizzy for no apparent reason? Do you worry that this might mean you are having a heart attack and could die? You could be suffering from panic attacks/panic disorder.
Stress and Anxiety difficulties
Do you feel anxious and stressed for much of the time? Do you dread having to leave the house, or always need to sit near to the exit when at the cinema or in a restaurant? Do you cancel arrangements with friends at the last minute because you just can’t face going out? You could be experiencing Agoraphobia. CBT is a highly effective treatment for Agoraphobia and anxiety problems.
Social Anxiety:
Social anxiety can affect people interacting with other people at work and social situations. Social anxiety may prevent you from gaining promotion or making new friends. This may get in the way of you doing things like making a presentation at work, attending a friend's wedding or going out for a meal with friends.
Worry- Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Worry can be very distressing and stop you from getting on with day to day tasks. You may worry about many different things in life such as money, family, friends, world events, work, and future. You may find that most of your time is spent worrying and that you are struggling to switch off from these thoughts and manage the uncertainties of life.
Habit problems:
These are similar to OCD and may be habits that you are struggling to prevent yourself from doing such as gambling, extensive shopping/spending, pulling your hair out and picking at your skin.
Anger and irritability problems
Anger or irritability can interfere with all areas of your life. Do you find you are losing your temper more quickly when driving or dealing with people? Have you acted on these feelings and worry about the consequences? Is this effecting your work or relationship?
Low Self Esteem
Is confidence your problem? Low self- esteem can present alongside many other problems such as social anxiety and depression. Do you struggle to accept compliments, acknowledge positive qualities about yourself and see yourself as equal to others?
Phobia
Do you feel you have an excessive fear of things such as spiders, blood, certain foods, needles, heights, driving, flying, confined spaces, vomit & animals? Do you try and avoid these things and this may stop you pursuing hobbies, careers, relationships and having spontaneous experiences.
Work related stress
Work related stress is a common problem that often goes unaddressed and can cause you to experience anxiety and low mood. Talking through these difficulties may help you remain at work or return to work after a period off sick.
Sleeping Problems
Are you struggling to get to sleep or stay asleep? Do you wake in the night, look at the clock, calculate the number of hours sleep you have got, then worry you won’t be able to function tomorrow? CBT can improve sleep and sleep hygiene.