CBT Canary Wharf

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy Service in London

Phone or e-mail for an appointment
E: cbtcanarywharf@btinternet.com, T: (020) 7956-8689

About CBT

What Is CBT?

Cognitive-Behavioural therapy (CBT) is a highly effective, evidence-based talking therapy that helps people to overcome emotional problems like depression and anxiety.

CBT is a psychological therapy based on the "here and now", rather than on the past. Unlike other talking therapies, CBT is concerned mainly with your current difficulties rather than early childhood experiences. In CBT, we will focus our work around what keeps your problem going, rather than on answering the question "why did I develop this problem?". In CBT, early childhood experiences are looked at only to help you understand where you developed/acquired certain attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours.

CBT is based on the idea that the way a person thinks (Cognitive) about their situation, influences how they feel and behave (Behavioural). Our thoughts have a powerful effect on the way we feel, and they also influence how we behave towards ourselves and others.

Let's take a look at an example using the ABC model of emotional problems:

 

Example: Mike and Sam have both lost their jobs. Let’s call “loss of job” the “activating event” or  “Trigger”. Now let’s look at how they both think about and respond to, this activating event.

Mike

A (Activating Event/Trigger) Beliefs (Thoughts)  Consequences (emotional and behavioural)

Loss of job

"I'll never find a good job again; this was the ideal job; what if I can't find another job".

Depression, worry, withdrawal from people, stay in bed far too long each day, avoid getting on with tasks.

Sam

A (Activating Event/Trigger) Beliefs (Thoughts)  Consequences (emotional and behavioural)

Loss of job

"It's too bad I lost this job, I really enjoyed it and liked my colleagues but it's not the end of the world; I know I am employable so I'll just spend some time putting my CV together and send it out to prospective employers."

Upset, not depressed, takes proactive steps to finding new job

Can you spot any differences in the way these two people think? How about how they each coped with their thoughts? Did you notice that Mike behaved in a "depressed" way whilst Sam responded in a more proactive way to the same situation?

CBT will help you to identify and evaluate the validity of your negative thoughts; negative thoughts are the thoughts that prevent you from taking steps to help yourself feel better and achieve your goals.

E: cbtcanarywharf@btinternet.com

T: (020) 7956-8689

© 2007 Marla Stromberg, CBT Canary Wharf, All rights reserved.
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