Cognitive Behavioural Theory

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) encourages you to change how you think and behave to solve your problems. It is most commonly used to treat depression and anxiety, though it can also benefit other mental and physical conditions.

How CBT works

CBT works by recognising that your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and actions are interconnected and that negative thoughts and feelings trap you in a vicious cycle.

With CBT, you’re taught how to break down negative patterns into smaller ones so you can cope with overwhelming problems in a more positive way.

While some talking treatments are focused on issues from your past, CBT looks for practical ways to improve your state of mind every day rather than focusing on current problems.

Uses for CBT

CBT is an effective way of treating several different mental health conditions.

In addition to depression or anxiety disorders, CBT can also help people with:

bipolar disorder
borderline personality disorder
eating disorders – such as anorexia and bulimia
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
panic disorder
phobias
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
psychosis
schizophrenia
sleep problems – such as insomnia
issues related to alcohol misuse

CBT is also sometimes used to treat people with long-term health conditions, such as:

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
fibromyalgia

Although CBT cannot cure the physical symptoms of these conditions, it can help people cope better with their symptoms.