Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in London

Do you struggle with anxiety, depression or anger issues? Do you regularly feel overwhelmed or struggle to control your behaviours and thoughts? If you're looking for a solution to your mental and emotional issues but are reluctant to take psychotropic drugs, cognitive behavioural therapy could be for you. 

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, is a form of talking therapy that helps you to reframe your thoughts, beliefs and attitudes and transform negative patterns into positive ones. Premised on the idea that the way we think can affect the way we act, CBT uses a series of active exercises to holistically transform your way of thinking, doing and believing. 

Free from side effects and praised by doctors and mental health professionals alike, the combination of both cognitive therapy (the way you think) and behavioural therapy (the things you do) make CBT a highly respected form of therapy. 

Talk to a cognitive behavioural therapist today and find out whether it’s the right route for you! 

Not the holistic therapist you're looking for? Back to Holistic Therapies.

What Are the Benefits of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy? 

Combining psycho-education about the nature of fear and anxiety, self-monitoring of symptoms, cognitive restructuring and somatic exercises, cognitive behavioural therapy has been proven to help with a wide range of psychological, emotional and psychiatric issues, including: 

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 
• Anxiety 
• Depression 
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 
• Eating Disorders 
• Anger and Stress Management 
• Phobias
• Social Anxiety Disorders

If you suffer from any form of mental disturbance, be sure to speak to your doctor and see whether they think that CBT would be a beneficial form of treatment for you. 

What to Expect from a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Session 

CBT is a form of therapy where you work with a qualified therapist to identify and transform negative thinking patterns and behaviours that are limiting your life. Because it is such a personal and customised form of therapy, there is truly no one set formula for CBT sessions. But if you’re anxious about your first few sessions and what they might entail, here’s a rough outline of what you can expect.

Initial Consultation

Your first session will begin with an initial consultation, during which your therapist will ask you questions about your concerns, issues and what you hope to achieve. Don’t worry if you’re not sure of any answers; these initial questions are designed to give the therapist an idea of the kinds of issues you might be experiencing.

You may discuss your past and how your past has affected you, your present situation and your aspirations and fears for the future. Your therapist will likely do a lot of probing and may ask uncomfortable questions, but don’t be put off — these early conversations are integral to the development of your therapy plan, so the more information you can provide, the better! 

Using the information from this consultation, your therapist will put together a personalised treatment plan outlining the sorts of interventions that will be used in your therapy. 

Subsequent Sessions

After the initial consultation, your treatment will begin. This will be unique to you and calibrated to target your particular concerns and needs. However, it’s worth being aware that CBT is an active form of therapy that pushes you to learn and practice new skills, so you won’t just be talking through your issues. Each session, you will spend some time solving problems and actively tackling new behaviours and transforming negative behavioural patterns. 

Each subsequent session will usually start with a quick check-in and a review of any homework you’ve been set. Homework may include tracking changes in your mood or noting down particular behaviours observed during the week. Then, your therapist will set the agenda for the session. 

The Final Sessions

Where talk therapy can last over years, CBT is a relatively short process, normally running for a few months at a time. This is because CBT is premised on the idea that you can learn the tools and techniques to become your own therapist. 

But don’t worry — your sessions won’t suddenly just stop. As you near the end of your treatment, your sessions will slowly become less frequent until you get to a stage where you can manage your treatment yourself. 

Book a session with a cognitive behavioural therapist and break the cycle of negative behavioural patterns and thoughts for good! Use our location search to find one near you.