This website or its third-party tools use cookies which are necessary to its functioning and required to improve your experience. By clicking the consent button, you agree to allow the site to use, collect and/or store cookies.
Please click the consent button to view this website.
I accept
Deny cookies Go Back

Openforwards: Counselling Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) Birmingham

Birmingham City-Centre Psychology Service offering Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), ACT, EMDR and Compassion-focused Therapy, professional training and well-being consultancy.

Get in touch

Call now to book an appointment:
Tel. 0121 523 1108

  • CBT & Counselling
    • CBT for Anxiety
    • CBT & Counselling for Depression
    • CBT & Counselling for Work-related Stress
    • CBT Therapy for Confidence Building & Self Esteem
    • Trauma-focused CBT Therapy after abuse or injury
    • Therapy for Marriage / Couples
  • Professional Training
    • An Introductory Training in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
    • Acceptance Commitment Therapy Training Level 2
    • ACT for Long-term Conditions
    • Therapist Wellbeing Training
    • ACT / CBT Supervision
    • Well-being Consultancy
  • Community
  • Meditations
  • FREE Articles
    • Podcast
    • About Therapy
    • weekly round-up
    • Mental Wellbeing & Self Care
      • Anxiety
      • Depression
      • Flashbacks Trauma & Trust
    • Relationships
    • Stress at Work
      • Burnout
    • Physical Health & Exercise
    • Personal Development & Growth
      • Confidence Building & Self Esteem
    • Family, Community & Prosocial Society
    • Training in ACT
      • Clinical Supervision
  • Team
  • Contact
  • Login
You are here: Home / Anxiety / What is CBT?

March 15, 2017 by jim lucas

cognitive behaviour therapy

What is Cognitive Behaviour ?Therapy?

CBT stands for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Cognitive is to do with cognition which means thought. So

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is really just therapy that focuses on your thoughts and your behaviours.

It’s based on the ancient Greek idea that it isn’t what happens that changes your feelings, it is how your mind interprets it. The way you think effects how you feel and what you do.

When you sit down with a CBT therapist, you’ll learn about the patterns you get into with your thoughts. You’ll learn more about your blind-spots and the vicious cycles you get stuck with. Once you can see these more clearly, you and your therapist can work together to break them.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

How It Works

In Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), you’ll learn techniques to practice in your own time. This is what has the biggest impact.

We teach you proven skills to put into action both now and in years to come. It isn’t about fixing something that is broken. We don’t believe that you have an illness that needs curing. Instead, we teach you different ways of dealing with the human mind so that you can move on with your life.

CBT can be simple. Once you get started you’ll learn how to become more aware.  You’ll get better at noticing how your mind’s thoughts ‘control’ what you do – your behaviours.  When your thoughts control your behaviours too much and too often, they stop you from doing what you want to do. This is when you are more likely to develop problems with stress, anxiety and depression.

Let’s look at Richard’s situation.

He is often worried that he’ll “make mistakes” at work and that he’ll “get reprimanded” for it. He is often stressed and he works long hours to try to make sure he doesn’t miss anything. The result is that his focus and concentration deteriorate. He gets headaches and he feels more irritable. Unfortunately, he ends up making more mistakes.

Can you identify with Richard’s predicament? His way of coping with the fears is natural and understandable. But, it isn’t working. In fact, he is making more mistakes since he started working longer and harder.

CBT can help Richard by first helping him identify the vicious cycle. Then he’ll learn some techniques for dealing with the thoughts about making mistakes and getting reprimanded. And after that he could learn some new ways of working more smartly. This might include taking better care of himself, organising his time better and focusing on the most important tasks.

This is just one example of the many different ways your thoughts can lead you down rabbit holes. It’s just one example of how you end up doing stuff that makes the problem worse and not better.

If you’ve liked reading this article, please share or leave a comment.

Filed Under: Anxiety Tagged With: cbt, cognitive behaviour therapy, counselling

About jim lucas

Jim is the Founder and Managing Director of Openforwards. He is a BABCP Accredited CBT Therapist / Supervisor & a Teaching Fellow at University of Birmingham School of Psychology.

He writes articles, records podcasts and creates online courses to give you the opportunity to get the knowledge, skills and support to help you feel and cope better.

What are you looking for?

  • Therapy for Anxiety
  • Therapy for Depression
  • Work Stress Therapy
  • Therapy for Confidence Building & Self Esteem
  • Trauma Therapy for Trust Issues
  • Marriage & Couples Counselling
  • Training & Supervision for Therapists

FREE Well-being Resources

  • Podcast: Self Help Sat Nav
  • Mindfulness Meditations

SUPPORT

  • FAQs & Information about Therapy

Not sure what you need?

Speak to a Therapist

Members

Psychology Services

  • Join our Community
  • Consultancy Services
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
  • Eye Movement Desensitisation ReProcessing (EMDR)
  • Learn
Openforwards Award 2019

Openforwards Ltd, The Jewellery Business Centre, 95 Spencer Street, BIRMINGHAM, UK.

Tel. 0121 523 1108

Company

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • The Openforwards Method
  • UniWellbeing

Legal

  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy

© 2021 Openforwards Ltd