Does the CBT Model Make Sense to You?

 I have suggested that there are four aspects to consider when trying to decide if Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) could be suitable for you.

1. What are you hoping to get from therapy?
2. Does the CBT model make sense to you?
3. Does the way CBT works suit you? and –
4. Can CBT help with the type of problem/s you are experiencing?

Having thought about what you want to get from therapy we’ll now move on to the CBT approach.

 2. Does the CBT model make sense to you?

 Broadly speaking we understand our experience in a situation as relating to the following aspects:

– Our thoughts and beliefs (or cognitions): This is what is in our mind and includes verbal thoughts, images, or sometimes only a sense of something. Of course, we may or may not be aware of these at any given time.

– Our feelings or emotions: usually these can be captured in one word-descriptions, – like happy, sad, angry, anxious, upset etc.

– Our bodily sensations: such as pain, tension, butterflies in the stomach, relaxed and so on; and

– What we do, or don’t do, that is our behaviour, for example avoiding situations, shouting or keeping quiet, ruminating, drinking, comforting, socialising, worrying etc.

This cycle describes how we can understand our experience in a particular situation:

Of course, what goes on for us in the here and now is influenced by our previous experiences, both early in life but also later. Our experiences and relationships have shaped the more deep-seated beliefs and assumptions about ourselves, about the world and others, and in turn these influence the way we think, feel and act in the present.

As CBT therapists we seek to come to an understanding with you of how your specific life experiences have shaped your beliefs, assumptions and thoughts, and how these make you feel and influence what you do now. We try and help you understand how these elements fit together for you so we can work out what can be changed to make life better.

However, if you believe that an improvement in your situation can only happen if other people, or your circumstances, change, then a psychological approach such as CBT which focusses on what changes you can make, might not be right for you at this time. This is because the aim of CBT is to help you make changes in your situation.

Nevertheless, you may be facing conditions you do not have direct control over, such as health problems or certain responsibilities. In these instances, CBT will involve finding the best way for you to deal with givens that you are not able to change so that you can live life in the best way possible.