What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

CBT is an evidence-based therapy used to reduce distress and improve your ability to function. CBT techniques teach you to inspect and alter the way you think and behave to change the way you feel.

This approach is based on the assumption that our thoughts about a situation, our feelings about it, and how we behave are all related. Unhelpful thought patterns lead to negative emotions and behaviours that reinforce negative thoughts and maintain the presenting issue.

CBT helps you become more aware of these thoughts, actions and feelings so you can view difficult situations more clearly and respond with more control.

CBT reinforces behavioral practice to promote helpful behaviours and gradually learn how to confront fearful situations. Both individual or group formats are effective for treatment.

CBT is an effective treatment for:

• PTSD
• depression
• anxiety
• chronic pain
• Self-esteem
• Relationship issues
• Disordered eating
• anger management
• substance abuse
• Sleeping issues

How It Works

In Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, therapist and client work collaboratively to bring awareness to existing thought patterns. Then, the client is actively engaged in a process of using evidence to challenge thoughts to produce a positive change in feelings and behaviour. Clients can expect to play an active role in the process, with the therapist often suggesting homework or behavioural experiments between sessions.

The goal is to learn tools for managing situations and feelings that are challenging. Home practice between sessions is a key part of cognitive behavioural therapy.

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