CBT is based on several core principles which underpin psychological problems, including in part:

• Recognition of faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking
• Identification of learned patterns of unhelpful behaviour
• The ability to learn better ways of coping, thus alleviating the symptoms and facilitating a healthier perspective leading to an improvement in daily life and day to day functioning

CBT combines two types of therapy to help you deal with these dysfunctional/distorted thoughts and behaviours through examining both the things you think (cognitions) and do (behaviours).  It focuses on changing the automatic negative thoughts and core beliefs that can contribute to and worsen our emotional difficulties, depression, and anxiety. These spontaneous negative thoughts also have a detrimental influence on our mood.

Through CBT, faulty thoughts are identified, challenged, and replaced with more objective, realistic thoughts thus improving the way you feel.

It is a “problem-focused” and “action-oriented” form of therapy and is commonly used for treating the following:

• Anger problems
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Depression
• Addiction issues
• Eating disorders
• Heath anxiety
• Panic disorders
• Hoarding
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Phobias
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Sleep problems
• Stress
• Self-harm
• Low self-esteem
• Relationship problems

Unlike some other talking treatments, CBT deals with your current problems, rather than focusing on issues from your past looking for practical ways to improve your state of mind on a daily basis.  Here at Infinite Possibilities Counselling we will support you to identify and challenge these negative thoughts and behavioural patterns.  At times it could focus what is going on in your life right now but may also explore how your past life experiences have affected you as well.

In short, CBT facilitates:

• The identification of negative thinking – it is important to increase awareness of what thoughts, feelings and situations are contributing to unhelpful behaviours. Taking time to identify these provides essential insights which support the overall treatment process.
• Learning/practicing of new skills – this provides the client with healthier options and opportunities to tackle real life situations which before have proved problematic and resulted in high levels of distress.
• The introduction of goal setting allows the client to break down the problem/issue at hand into more manageable steps allowing for greater chances of success.
• The ability to problem solve more effectively can help the client to identify and solve problems, both big and small, arising from daily life. This often involves the following:-
  • • • Identification of the problem,
      • Generation of a list of possible solutions,
      • Evaluation of the pros and cons of each of these solutions, and
      • Selection and implementation of one of these solutions.
• Self-monitoring – capturing and tracking behaviours, symptoms and/or experiences encountered whilst carrying out the above allowing further discussion and insights.  This in turn supports us here at Infinite Possibilities Counselling to provide support and encouragement to the client whilst undertaking therapy