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What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use problems, marital problems, eating disorders, and severe mental illness. Numerous research studies suggest that CBT leads to significant improvement in functioning and quality of life. In many studies, CBT has been demonstrated to be as effective as, or more effective than, other forms of psychological therapy or psychiatric medications.

It is important to emphasise that advances in CBT have been made on the basis of both research and clinical practice. Indeed, CBT is an approach for which there is ample scientific evidence that the methods that have been developed actually produce change. In this manner, CBT differs from many other forms of psychological treatment.

CBT is based on several core principles, including:

  1. Psychological problems are based, in part, on faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking.

  2. Psychological problems are based, in part, on learned patterns of unhelpful behavior.

  3. People suffering from psychological problems can learn better ways of coping with them, thereby relieving their symptoms and becoming more effective in their lives.

 

CBT treatment usually involves efforts to change thinking patterns. These strategies might include:

  • Learning to recognize one's distortions in thinking that are creating problems, and then to reevaluate them in light of reality.

  • Gaining a better understanding of the behavior and motivation of others.

  • Using problem-solving skills to cope with difficult situations.

  • Learning to develop a greater sense of confidence in one's own abilities.

 

CBT treatment also usually involves efforts to change behavioral patterns. These strategies might include:

  • Facing one's fears instead of avoiding them.

  • Using role-playing to prepare for potentially problematic interactions with others.

  • Learning to calm one's mind and relax one's body.

 

Not all CBT will use all of these strategies. Rather, the therapist and client work together, in a collaborative fashion, to develop an understanding of the problem and to develop a treatment strategy.

CBT places an emphasis on helping individuals learn to be their own therapists. Through exercises in the session as well as “homework” exercises outside of sessions, clients are helped to develop coping skills, whereby they can learn to change their own thinking, problematic emotions, and behavior.

CBT therapists can focus both on the here and now but can also work with clients to develop an understanding of their earlier experiences. These earlier experiences can give us a deeper understanding for the presenting challenges. Having this deeper understanding can help identify any patterns that have merged over time. This can help to support a compassionate approach to ones challenges. 

Source: APA Div. 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology)

Our Address

- 18-20 Merville Rd, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin

- Moone, Co. Kildare 

- Online sessions available
​Email: cbtaoifeoneilltherapist@proton.me

Available Treatments
  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Life transitions

  • Low self-esteem

  • OCD

  • Phobias

  • Disordered Eating

Aoife works with:

  • Children

  • Adolescents

  • Adults

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