What is CBT?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy. It has been shown to be help with a wide range of mental health problems.
How does CBT work?
CBT is based on the theory that your thoughts, feelings and behaviours are interconnected.
You and the therapist will work closely together to understand how you think, feel and behave and the effects on your life.
The therapy aims to identify unhelpful cycles by changing the way we think and behave. In turn, this can positively influence our feelings.
Your therapist will be a health professional such as a psychologist, nurse, doctor, social worker or counsellor.
What does CBT involve?
You will work together with your therapist to develop a shared understanding of what is going on for you and what is keeping any difficulties going.
You will identify goals and you will develop steps and strategies to work on over the course of therapy. The aim is to learn more helpful ways of coping with your current and future problems.
You will probably agree tasks to do in between sessions. These give you the chance to practice the things you have talked about in the sessions.
The focus tends to be on the “here and now” but you may decide it would be helpful to think about past experiences too.
How long does CBT last?
You will usually meet your therapist for one hour a week. Therapy can be up to 10-20 sessions; but may be shorter or longer.
Regular reviews will help us make sure CBT is focusing on what is most helpful for you.
What problems is CBT good for?
CBT has been found to help with:
anxiety * and phobias*
panic attacks* and agoraphobia*
obsessive compulsive disorder *
depression*
bulimia* and other eating problems
sleep problems
sexual and relationship difficulties
chronic pain
chronic fatigue syndrome*
body Dysmorphic Disorder *
paranoia *
hearing voices *
bipolar disorder*
post traumatic stress disorder *
(For those marked with * CBT has been recommended as the main psychological treatment by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.)
Other interventions and CBT
CBT works alongside other interventions that may help you such as social activities, work, study, exercise, Family Intervention, medication etc.
More information
Royal College of Psychiatry
CBT
https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/treatments-and-wellbeing/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-(cbt)
CBT Information for young people and parents
MIND booklet on CBT
https://www.mind.org.uk/media-a/2884/cbt-2017.pdf
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
Contact
For more information, please ask to speak to the psychological therapies manager
in your area.
BSL Video Relay
https://connect.interpreterslive.co.uk/vrs?ilc=AvonWiltshireMHT and ask for our number; or for switchboard 01225 731731 to connect you.
For information on Trust services visit www.awp.nhs.uk.
PALS
To make a comment, raise a concern or make a complaint, please contact the Trust’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).
Tel: 01225 362 900
Freephone: 0800 073 1778
Email: awp.pals@nhs.net
Other languages and formats
If you need this information in another language or format (such as large print, audio, Braille), please call the PALS number.
Lead: Head of Pychological Therapies
Leaflet code: 003 AWP
Last reviewed: Dec 2023
Next review due: Dec 2026