CBT counselling

Question 1

don’t forget

Answer 1

risk assessment

focussed depression hx

establish previous tx + current understanding

Question 2

what is CBT

Answer 2

Talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you feel, think and act.

It is specific, structured, focused on the present, and collaborative

Question 3

CBT indications

Answer 3

depression, anxiety, ED, OCD, PTSD, substance misuse

CBT can be used alone or in combination with pharmacological treatments

Question 4

When/structure

Answer 4

1-to-1

5-20 weekly/fortnightly sessions

each lasting 30-60 mins

Computerised/self-help CBT can be done at your own pace in your own home.

Question 5

How it works (broken into cognitive & behavioural)

Answer 5

Cognitive therapy → helps us to understand our thoughts so that we can think about things more positively (e.g. person on phone) = breaking negative thought cycles

Therapists may ask you to do some ‘homework’ between sessions (e.g. keep diary)

Behavioural therapy → helps us to change any of our actions that are unhelpful (e.g. avoidance of
situations that make one feel anxious) = exposure therapy

Question 6

How long for

Answer 6

First couple of sessions provide an introduction, and can tell you if this is the right therapy for you

5-20 weeks long, though benefits are life-long

Question 7

Do I need to go into the past and childhood

Answer 7

No

CBT is all about grounding, where you are here and now and where to go from there