Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a short, structured therapy that helps people to recognise the links between their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It can help us to see where we might be getting ‘stuck’ in unhelpful patterns in of thinking and behaving, and gives us tools and strategies to manage them.
CBT has a strong evidence-base and is recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) for treatment of a range of mental health difficulties.
CBT can be used with adults and with young people.
What is CBT?
Who is CBT for?
CBT might be right for you if you’re struggling with:
Anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Depression or low mood
Stress or feelings of overwhelm
Low self-esteem or body image difficulties, including body dysmorphia
And many other emotional or mental health challenges
It might also be a good fit if:
You’re looking for a focused, time-limited therapy
You want to learn practical coping strategies to manage difficult thoughts and feelings
CBT sessions are tailored to your individual needs but typically include:
Building a shared understanding of your difficulties and what you want to work on
Exploring patterns in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours to identify what may be maintaining your difficulties
Practicing coping strategies and techniques together during sessions
Encouragement to try out strategies and exercises between sessions to support your progress
Completing practical tasks and experiments, both in and outside of sessions, to help test out new ways of thinking and behaving
Many people find this approach helpful because it combines understanding with practical tools, empowering you to make changes step-by-step.