Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that helps people identify and change unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. It’s based on the idea that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are interconnected, and by changing one, we can positively influence the others. Here's how it works:

1. Identify Negative Patterns: CBT helps you notice thoughts that might be overly negative, distorted, or not based on reality (e.g., "I'm a failure," "Nothing ever works out for me").

2. Challenge These Thoughts: You learn to question the accuracy of these thoughts and reframe them into more realistic and helpful perspectives.

3. Change Behaviours: CBT encourages experimenting with new behaviours to break out of old patterns like, avoiding certain situations or reacting in unproductive ways.

4. Develop Coping Skills: It teaches practical tools for managing stress, anxiety, or depression, like relaxation techniques, problem-solving, or gradual exposure to feared situations.

The overall goal of CBT is to empower you to become your own therapist, enabling you to handle challenges more effectively in the future. It's evidence-based and often short-term, which helps to make it accessible for everyone.

Book a free 15 minute phone consultation with an CBT therapist now

How does CBT work? What does a CBT therapist do?

Have you ever had the thought that a friend is mad at you? Has this thought made you anxious? Did you then either withdraw from this friend or seek excessive reassurance? Take a second to reflect on this situation - what happened next?

A single thought, like "They’re mad at me," can quickly create an emotional response—like anxiety or guilt. That feeling might then drive behaviour, such as avoiding the person or over-apologizing.

When the person doesn’t reach out or act reassuringly, it might seem like proof that they’re upset, reinforcing the original thought and keeping the cycle going.

This pattern persists because our brain focuses on evidence that matches our worry, even if it’s not accurate. Here lies the heart of CBT therapy.

Your CBT therapist can help to break this cycle. Some of the ways they do this is by challenging the thought, helping to manage the emotion, or take a healthier action.

CBT is particularly helpful for people who are goal-oriented, open to self-reflection, and willing to practice techniques between sessions. While it’s not the only therapy option, it is the most widely researched therapeutic approach.

Who can CBT help?

CBT is widely used in treating a variety of mental health concerns. Our CBT therapists can help with the following concerns:

• Anxiety

• Stress and burnout

• Trauma

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Sleep issues (ex. insomnia)

• Depression

• Perfectionism/High Achieving

• Chronic Pain and Illness

• People Pleasing Tendencies

• Relationship Issues

• Anger Management

• Online CBT therapy can also be provided.

Book a free 15 minute phone consultation with an CBT therapist now

"The way you think influences the way you feel, and the way you behave."

Aaron T. Beck