What to Expect?
Inital Consultation (Assessment)
In our initial sessions, we will have open and honest conversations about the challenges you are facing. This will allow us to gain a deeper understanding of what is causing your current mood and anxiety. We will also explore how these emotions are impacting your daily life and any relevant experiences from your past. Additionally, this is a chance for us to explain what Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) entails, how it can be beneficial, and to understand your personal goals and expectations for therapy.
Anxiety
Depending on the anxiety presentation, we will begin with understanding what anxiety is and then start to work through a number of techniques to reduce your anxiety whilst simultaneously increasing your confidence in your ability to cope. This techniques could be in the form of exposure based practice, behavioural experiments to test out anxious predictions, relaxation and cognitive exercises to challenge thoughts. By incorporating these strategies, we aim to empower you to effectively manage your anxiety and enhance your overall well-being.
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Depression
Once we have an understanding on what has contributed to your low mood, we will delve into the concept of 'behavioural activation'. This entails examining the activities you engage in when feeling down, recognizing that motivation and energy levels are typically very low during periods of depression. Additionally, we will explore the process of challenging and altering automatic negative thoughts and core beliefs that may be exacerbating your depressive symptoms. Addressing rumination will also be a key component of our sessions, as it plays a significant role in maintaining feelings of sadness and hopelessness. If deemed suitable, we may incorporate techniques such as imagery and mindfulness to further aid in managing your mood and promoting overall well-being. These strategies can help you develop a greater sense of awareness and control over your thoughts and emotions.
Intersession Tasks
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) goes beyond just talking; it involves actively implementing the ideas and techniques discussed during therapy sessions in real-life situations. These practical tasks, also known as 'intersession' or 'homework tasks', play a crucial role in the treatment process. They can range from keeping a record of negative thoughts to conducting and documenting experiments that challenge negative predictions caused by anxiety or depression. By completing these tasks, you have the opportunity to apply what you've learned and enable us to reflect on your progress in subsequent sessions. This integration of theory and practice greatly enhances the effectiveness of your therapy.
Follow up
As part of our standard practice, we always offer you the opportunity to engage in a follow-up session once your therapy is complete. This is designed to ensure that you can have peace of mind knowing that if you encounter any barriers, difficulties, or setbacks, you will have the support needed to openly discuss them and make any necessary changes or explore further support options.
Child and Adolescent Therapy
When it comes to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for young people, the focus is more on the overall system and it is tailored to each individual and their family. This means that the treatment takes into account the young person's cognitive and developmental age, ensuring that it is appropriate for them. In order to achieve this, various approaches to CBT may be used, such as incorporating a more creative style rather than just relying on traditional "talking therapy".
During the initial assessment of your child, the therapist will gather information from both you and your child. In some cases, they may even arrange a separate discussion with parents to address any concerns before the appointment. The decision to have joint or separate conversations will be made based on what you feel would work best for your family. Together, we will explore the current difficulties your child is facing and gather information about their development, school, and family background. It's important to note that the level of parental involvement may vary from one young person to another, and sometimes adolescents prefer to be seen without full parental involvement.
After the assessment, if it is deemed appropriate, a series of treatment sessions will be agreed upon. Each session typically lasts between 45 and 60 minutes. For younger children, it is usually beneficial to involve parents in the treatment process. However, as children grow older, the level of parental involvement may decrease, although this is not always the case. Children under the age of seven or eight are generally less capable of engaging in CBT independently, so working directly with parents can be particularly beneficial for children of this age group.
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For child-friendly language explanation of CBT and therapy, please visit our young persons page.