We all have something about ourselves or our lives that we would like to change. Even the most contented person will find the use of CBT beneficial. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be used by anybody.
This may well be the first time you heard about CBT and are looking at it in the hope of learning some new ways to tackle the obstacles that you are facing. Perhaps like I was, you have been offered CBT by a mental health professional, whatever the reason, CBT can help change your life.
What Is CBT?
Cognitive behavioural therapy(CBT) is a psychotherapeutic approach that addresses dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviours and cognitive processes and contents through a number of goal-oriented, explicit systematic procedures.
The name refers to behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, and to therapy based upon a combination of basic behavioral and cognitive principles and research.
CBT is thought to be effective for the treatment of a variety of conditions, including mood, anxiety, personality, eating, substance abuse, tic, and psychotic disorders.
Many CBT treatment programs for specific disorders have been evaluated for efficacy; the health-care trend of evidence-based treatment, where specific treatments for symptom-based diagnoses are recommended, has favoured CBT over other approaches such as psychodynamic treatments. (Wiki)
When you think you have tried everything and nothing works, I ask that you keep an open mind with CBT and give it your 110% attention.
Changes do not happen over night and this form of therapy takes dedication. I promise if your determined enough to want to make changes in your life then Cognitive behavioural therapy can and will help you.
Of course change is possible, we just have to want it bad enough to make these changes. What if you could be the one in control over these changes? You can make these changes happen, believe in yourself.
I have learned that if you want something to change then you really have to believe it does need to change. This can be a difficult situation as it means we have to firstly accept something is not right.
CBT does not offer a quick solution to your problems, its takes time and a great deal of effort to put into practice This is going to be a learning curve for you and will teach you how to change your thoughts, feelings and behavior.
I was one of those people who dreaded going to see a counselor you know those folk who analyze you by asking questions. I thought CBT was just another way to destroy me emotionally.
I finally decided to take up their offer of Cognitive behavioural therapy after I bought 5 books on eBay about the topic and read each book and then went onto research the topic in depth . I wanted to know what I was letting myself in for.
I don’t like change, change frightens me, but I knew there were a number of areas in my life that desperately needed changing. During periods of mood changes I was content to just let things be, why rock the boat when things were going just OK?
The truth was my life was not OK and I was the one who was in control of many of the feelings and emotions I was portraying yet had no idea how to apply them.
I feared having to think about change, I feared what these changes would mean to me and how they would make an impact upon my life. I feared I would not be strong enough to make these decisions and keep working towards making these goals come to life.
What I found most surprising about Cognitive behavioural therapy was it was nothing like my shrink, it didn’t want to know about my past and to be quite honest it wasn’t even interested in it. I felt comfortable being able to think about “the here and now” as that is where I am today and I can understand what’s happening around me, as I am living it.
Cognitive behavioural therapy is focused on helping you with the challenges you are facing right now and helping yo to make solid foundations to make the changes necessary for an easier and more fulfilled life.
