Cognitive Behaviour Therapy helps a counselling client recognise the content of their thoughts (cognitive) in conjunction with their actions (behaviour). CBT therefore focuses primarily on the present time - the here and now - and encourages the counselling client to stop thinking about the past, which is unchangeable, and to concentrate on the present, which is more flexible and open to change and suggestion.

Counselling usually refers to a brief treatment that centres on behaviour patterns and will enable you to explore personal development and to create adjustments to your life.

This form of supportive talking therapy is successfully used by counsellors to help clients overcome a large number of emotion problems and concerns. These include: anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, limiting beliefs, panic, eating disorders, post traumatic stress disorder and phobias and fears.

An opportunity to clarify and understand

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy allows a counselling client an opportunity to clarify and understand the issue or problem that is on their mind. It then allows the client, and counsellor, to look at the situation more logically, and enables them to break the concern into smaller and less threateningly-sized chunks. By doing this a client will be able to realise how this issue affects them and what they can do to change their mindset and to create positive change.

How long does therapy last?

CBT is also primarily offered in short bursts of weekly counselling sessions, usually spread over a 6 week period. This length of counselling is usually sufficient, although some clients may require considerably longer than this length of time.

Useful link

The Counsellors Guide website www.thecounsellorsguide.co.uk