CBT Aberdeen Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) at Possibilities can help with: anxiety, panic, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, depression, stress, post-traumatic stress, anger, sleep problems, pain management, bulimia, sexual problems, addictions, relationship difficulties and other issues.  

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), sometimes referred to as cognitive behaviour therapy, is a relatively short to medium-term problem-solving and skill-building 'user-friendly' range of therapies for individuals, couples and groups.

The term 'Cognitive Behavioural Therapy' is often shortened to 'CBT'.

'Cognitive' refers to thoughts and images in your mind, how you think about things, interpretations and meanings, what is going through your mind and pre-occupying it.

'Behaviour' is about what you do (eg talk, avoid things, think, walk, play, etc).

'Therapy' refers to gently talking through your concerns at your own pace with an understanding and compassionate professional who has special training and is a qualified therapist in Aberdeen.

What happens in CBT?

In Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, you work together with your Aberdeen therapist as a mini-team, in a collaborative way to overcome your difficulties.  CBT is a systemic-like therapy that helps you develop new understandings of problems by breaking them down into the following key areas: feelings; body states; thoughts; behaviours; and situations (including environmental and contextual factors) and their inter-relationships.  Then with guidance from your therapist, you learn CBT ways of making changes and apply these to each key area and how they interact with one another.

CBT can help you to:

- Identify and change the vicious cycles that have developed between your feelings, body states, thoughts, behaviours and situations.  Often these are maintaining the main problem(s).

- Learn new skills for dealing with difficult emotions and their associated thoughts, including thoughts about your self, your situation and your life.

- Generate more helpful thoughts.

- Gain enough confidence to try out new behaviours.

- Develop more effective ways of coping.

Please note: CBT is definately not about 'positive thinking' or getting you to think 'positive thoughts' as this will just cause more problems for you.

What is covered in CBT?

CBT involves working through the following:

- Identifying your main concerns.

- Setting CBT type goals.

- Developing a CBT understanding of your problem(s).

- Completing therapeutic tasks at home between sessions.

- Learning new CBT methods and making changes to overcome problems and unpleasant symptoms plus addressing any underlying issues.

- Relapse prevention.

- Becoming your own CBT therapist and preparing for the future. 

How long do CBT meetings last?

At Aberdeen CBT, usually meetings last 50 minutes.  The therapy sessions are structured with an agreed agenda to ensure that the discussion is focused on what is most important to you.

The frequency of meetings is often weekly during the initial phase then moving to fortnightly.  The initial frequency is important to build momentum.  The duration of cognitive behaviour therapy treament can vary between 6 weeks to 6 months or more.  The number of meetings required depends on the nature and severity of your problem.

Is CBT Effective?

CBT has been widely researched and shown to work very well for many people who are experiencing psychological problems (ie most of us at some time in our lives).  However, it must be remembered that CBT does not suit everyone and other therapy options are available.

How do you make an appointment?

To make an initial appointment for CBT Aberdeen Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, please contact Tracey Johnston, Clinical Director tel: 07593768129 or email (please click on email address): info@aberdeentherapy.com 

All communications are treated with the highest degree of discretion and confidentiality.

Possibilities Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre has a wide range of services available to people from Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Grampian.  

Possibilities Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre

14 -20 John Street

Aberdeen

AB25 1BT

Tel: 07593768129

Email: info@aberdeentherapy.com

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