Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) / OCD / Phobias
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, often referred to as CBT, is a style of therapy most widely used throughout the counselling world. It is the method many clients have been referred to through their GP and provided by the NHS as their Mental Health support therapy. It is usually a short term style of therapy, with an agreed number of sessions and used to target specific issues or goals.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) manifests differently for each individual. It usually involves creating patterns or behaviours in repetitive ways coupled with the feeling of harm or impending doom if these methods are not completed.
Phobias can be focussed on most things in life. By looking at the rationality at these or by attempting exposure therapy, they can be treated and cured.
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Is CBT for me?
CBT is a specialist form of therapy, that is only applicable to specific situations and issues. Please contact us to arrange a FREE Initial Assessment to discover what type of support you require and make a decision about what method will be best suited to your needs.
I've had CBT before and it didn't help?
CBT is a method of therapy most suited to clients working on Phobias and Anxiety. If your traumas and issues do not fit into these categories, CBT may have been the incorrect approach for you. Often a longer term of support, using a different approach will be required to give effective results. The NHS primarily provide CBT, as this allows them to treater a greater volume of patients, however this style doesn't always help everyone.
How does CBT work?
CBT is a structured programme, with a set amount of sessions agreed in advance between the therapist and client. There will be 'homework' elements to this style of therapy, which will enable the client to progress between sessions. Sessions will cover the topics discussed at the initial session and will need completing within the set timeframes.
What is OCD?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a combination of Obsessive thoughts and Compulsive behaviours. The disorder usually occurs around puberty and into early adulthood. The obsession is often in the form of unwanted and unpleasant thoughts, images or urges with the compulsion requiring a repetitive behaviour or act to provide temporary relief.
I've had OCD for years now. How can it stop?
There are specialist techniques that can be used to reduce and eventually cease OCD from occurring. Your therapist can agree the most suitable ones to your situation after exploring how your OCD manifests and what the causes / triggers of it are.
My Phobia is quite unusual, will these methods work for it?
At there core, all phobias stem from an irrational fear of something. Yet they all have the same thing in common - their origin. Your therapist will work alongside you to trace back the origin of your Phobia, then agree a plan with how to treat this. There are many different way to treat Phobias, with some methods not being applicable to all phobias. The treatment may require you to try multiple methods, to find the one that works for you.
Will I have to 'face my fear' with my Phobia?
One of the most effective ways to cure a phobia is to 'face the fear' however this is not always possible, depending on the safety element involved. You will never be forced to do anything that you are unwilling to try, however your therapist may suggest doing exercises and work that will challenge your thinking and help reshape your view of the phobia. Exposure Therapy is a way of doing this, but it will be a gradual build up to this point, rather than throwing you in the deep end immediately.