What is cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is a therapy that can help you to overcome problems to do with low mood and/or anxiety.
Many young people struggle with their mental health sometimes and there is lots of evidence and research that shows CBT helps young people to feel better. We therefore use CBT to help because we know that it can work.
How does CBT work?
CBT works on the idea that your thoughts, feelings and behaviours (what you do) are all linked together and all have an impact on each other.
When you are feeling anxious and / or low in mood, you can get stuck in a cycle of negative or unhelpful thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
By using CBT, we can help you to break that cycle and help you to change your thoughts and behaviours so that you start to feel better.
CBT can be used to help young people struggling with some of the following problems:
- anxiety
- phobias
- obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- worry
- low mood
- eating disorders
- trauma
- as well as other mental health difficulties.
What should I expect?
CBT sessions usually happen once a week:
- you will work together with your therapist (and anyone else you’d like to help you) to understand the problem you’re struggling with and set a goal to work towards
- you will learn new skills to help you feel better.
It is really important in CBT to practice your new skills at home (your therapist will help you set tasks in order to do this in between your sessions).
Your therapist will help you to challenge and change your negative thoughts as well as unhelpful behaviours.
All of these things aim to help you feel better.
Accessing Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
If you are not already accessing cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) you can get more information about making a referral by contacting your local CAMHS team.
You can also do this by making an appointment with your GP.
Helpful contacts and information
Telephone
Apps
Recommended by NHS on the website
- Feeling good: positive mindset
- Calm Harm (managing self-harm)
- Catch It (record and challenge negative thoughts)
- Chill Panda (relaxation techniques)
L1085, V3, 24/01/2021 (Archive: 24/01/2024)
