Read about the experience of a past client, who found Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to be extremely valuable in their treatment of their mental health conditions,
"Anxiety and depression has been a big part of my world for most of my adult life, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been a game-changer for me. As a solution, CBT is a type of therapy that focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviours. As a therapy it has been proven to be effective in treating a variety of mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
One of the things I enjoyed about my journey with CBT is that it's a very action-oriented therapy. Unlike some other forms of therapy CBT is all about developing practical strategies and an action plan to help you cope with difficult emotions and situations. For example, when I first started CBT, my therapist helped me to identify some of the negative thought patterns that were contributing to my anxiety. I tended to catastrophise, assuming the worst-case scenario in any given situation. My therapist helped me to challenge these thoughts by asking me to think about the evidence that supported them. Was there any evidence that the worst-case scenario was actually likely to happen? In most cases, the answer was no, and where evidence was available, it was far from prevalent, and the risk was exceedingly low, however my ability to catastrophise meant even a 1% risk was enough for me to believe it was going to happen. However, now if was clear that is was me deciding this.
This exercise was incredibly helpful for me because it helped me to realise that my anxiety was often based on unfounded fears. By challenging those fears and looking at the evidence objectively, I was able to reduce my anxiety levels significantly.
Another thing I appreciate about CBT is that it's a very collaborative process. It's not just about the therapist telling you what to do; it's about working together to develop strategies that will work for you specifically. For example, my therapist and I worked together to develop a list of coping strategies that I could use when I felt particularly anxious. These included things like deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and visualisation techniques. For me, this meant learning how to appreciate my strengths and accomplishments. I had a tendency to focus on my shortcomings and compare myself to others, but through CBT, and the guidance of my therapist, I learned how to reframe my thinking and focus on the positive. I think this is why it is necessary to find a therapist that you gel with. That you can work collaboratively with.
Overall, CBT has been a life changing therapy for me. It's helped me develop better coping skills, improve my relationships, and feel more in control of my thoughts and emotions. If you're struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, I would highly recommend giving CBT a try. It's a practical and effective approach that can help you navigate life's challenges with greater ease and resilience."
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