Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a relatively short term, focused approach, used to treat many types of emotional, behavioural and psychological problems. It is a collaborative and individualised approach that helps individuals to identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, and then to learn or relearn healthier thoughts, skills and/or habits. CBT examines elements that maintain a problem, including our thoughts (cognitions), feelings, behaviour and the environment.
As part of a CBT program some of the cognitive techniques commonly used include identification and modification of automatic thoughts, core beliefs, expectancies, and self-efficacy beliefs.
Some of the commonly used behavioural techniques include relaxation training, assertion training, pleasant activity scheduling, and the use of behavioural experiments.
CBT has been researched extensively, and has demonstrated effectiveness with a variety of emotional difficulties including:
- Depression
- Generalised anxiety
- Panic
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
- Eating disorders
- Sexual Dysfunction
- Couples/marital problems
- Child behaviour problems
- Anger and stress management