Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 101

I like to tell my clients that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is like that Ronseal advert on TV that tells you the product does what it says on the tin.  Three words that describe what it is:

• Cognitions are thoughts that you have in your head
• Behaviours are things that you do
• Therapy is healing, which for therapists means change.  

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is often described as a talking therapy, in that one can expect a lot of talking to occur in a session with one's therapist.

I would also argue that talking is like theory, and that changing cognitions and behaviours is like practice.  For me the foundations of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are based on the principle that theory should always follow practice; because sessions will talk about what you have done, or the problems you have from not being able to change the things you want to do.

However, before you can even begin to address the problems you have to have some basic things in place, and these can be condensed down into seven short pithy statements as follows:

1. Breathe 
2. Drink 
3. Eat 
4. Sleep 
5. Exercise 
6. Family & Friends 
7. Work & Hobbies

All of the above are required to maintain you physical and mental well-being through a process called homeostasis.