Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy. It can help you make changes in the way you think (“Cognitive”) and the way you act (“Behaviour”). CBT has become one of the most popular forms of therapy to treat a broad range of anxiety disorders.

We all deal with anxiety in some form or another, but for some, anxiety is much stronger and it becomes excessive. It can give you an overwhelming surge of symptoms that are associated with this condition.

What causes anxiety disorders to develop? 

Anxiety disorders can be caused by a complex set of risk factors. These include your genes, how you were brought up, your life experiences, the way you learn and cope with things etc. and can vary according to what you’re worried about and how you act when you experience an anxiety attack.

If you feel anxious all the time or find it’s affecting your day-to-day life and previous self-help techniques haven’t helped. CBT may be the key to stop your cycle of negative thinking.

What is the theory behind CBT?

Mind, (a leading mental health charity in England and Wales), confirm that CBT is based on the idea that the way we think about situations can affect the way we feel and behave and that if your negative interpretation of situations goes unchallenged, then these patterns in your thoughts, feelings and behaviour can become part of a continuous cycle.

With CBT you will work with your therapist to identify and challenge any negative thinking patterns and behaviour, which may be causing your anxiety to strike with the eventual aim to achieve your goal by managing your anxiety so you can function and feel better in your day-to-day life.

Mind have provided the following video to illustrate the benefits of CBT and how it works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c_Bv_FBE-c

If you have Private Medical Insurance or health cash plan you may have cover for CBT.  Cover is subject to your plan benefits and when you were diagnosed with anxiety. If you’re not sure where to look for this information we can help you.

You can contact us by telephone on 01245 929 129 or by email at enquires@smphealthcare.com .

For those that do not have access to CBT via a private medical insurance policy or health cash plan your GP may be able to refer you for CBT that is free on the NHS, or if you can afford it, you can choose to self-fund for your therapy privately. The NHS advise that the cost of therapy sessions varies, but is usually £40-£100 per session.