Cognitive Behaviour Therapy or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is an approach that helps to reduce stress symptoms and considers the way the person thinks, feels and behaves. Looking at the way a person thinks will allow the mental health professional to assess whether it is the most helpful way of thinking.
Unhelpful thinking often underlies a number of difficulties, such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders. Ways of thinking can be changed, leading to more helpful patterns of thinking. Examining behavior will also guide treatment.
Techniques such as activity scheduling, social skills training, stress management and assertiveness training are components of the treatment program that targets those behaviors that contribute to symptoms, e.g. withdrawal from social contact, loss of positive rewards in day to day activities. For those who feel nervous and anxious, relaxation techniques can assist to reduce physical distress.What is the goal of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) can help people to feel better about themselves and to assist people to cope more easily with day-to-day situations and stressors. CBT is a treatment package aimed at getting people back on track, therefore, it is geared to assist them to gain control over symptoms and regain control over their life.
Who will find Cognitive Behavioural Therapy useful?
CBT can assist people with a broad range of difficulties such as: depression; eating disorders; anxiety and stress; somatoform disorders; alcohol and other drug issues; and psychoses. CBT may be sufficient on its own, but may also be used as a second line of treatment in conjunction with another treatment such as medication, e.g. in the case of the psychoses.
How difficult is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy?
Obtaining the things one wants takes time, effort and practise and it is the same with a CBT program. To make good use of a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) program, a person will have to put aside time to read and complete the exercises for each session.
The exercises are carefully designed to extend the person, each one pushing a little more than the last. For this reason it does take some effort and motivation and dedication to make good use of the CBT program.
Focusing on what makes the individual upset can be difficult but persistence is rewarded. If the person is motivated to make the most of CBT, the benefits will follow.
How successful is CBT?
The success rate of CBT depends on the individual's particular problem and his/her personal characteristics. If a CBT program is completed, the majority of people find it helpful. However, if the program is not completed, individuals should not be surprised if they do not gain the full benefits.
The CBT program is designed as a complete package. When using the program, some people find they may want to be assisted by someone trained in CBT. If this is the case, then a GP can refer the person to a clinical psychologist who is trained in CBT.
Medication and CBT
An individual does not have to stop his/her medication to begin Cognitive Behaviour Therapy nor while undertaking the CBT program. The two treatments work well together and it has been shown that CBT can prevent relapse when medication is discontinued. This means it is important to continue doing the CBT exercises even if medication is discontinued.
Where to from here?
The first step is to discuss the suitability of a CBT program with a GP. There are some Medicare Rebates available for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy delivered by clinical psychologists on a GP mental health plan or if you are referred by a psychiatrist. For more information, please contact Sentiens. We offer a number of programs for outpatient treatment and also through a day program, which attracts some benefits from private health insurance.
