What is likely to happen during a course of CBT/H?

The first session of therapy will usually include time for the therapist and you to develop a shared understanding of the problem. This is usually to identify how your thoughts, ideas, feelings, attitudes, and behaviours affect your day-to-day life. You should then agree a treatment plan and goals to achieve, and the number of sessions likely to be needed. Each session lasts about 50-60 minutes.

Typically, a session of therapy is done once a week. Most courses of CBT/H last for several weeks. It is common to have 10-15 sessions, but a course of CBT/H can be longer or shorter, depending on the nature and severity of the condition.

You have to take an active part, and are given 'homework' between sessions! For example, if you have social phobia, early in the course of therapy you may be asked to keep a diary of your thoughts which occur when you become anxious before a social event. Later on you may be given homework of trying out ways of coping which you have learned during therapy.

How well does CBT/H work?

CBT/H has been shown in clinical trials to help ease symptoms of various health problems. For example, research studies have shown that a course of CBT/H is just as effective as medication in treating depression and certain anxiety disorders. There may be long-term benefits of CBT/H as the techniques to combat these problems can be used for the rest of your life to help to keep symptoms away. So, for example, depression or anxiety are less likely to recur in the future. There is good research evidence too to show that CBT/H can help to improve symptoms of some physical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

What is the difference between CBT/H and other talking treatments?

CBT is one type of psychotherapy ('talking treatment'). Unlike other types of psychotherapy it does not involve 'talking freely', or dwell on events in your past to gain insight into your emotional state of mind.

It is not a 'lie on the couch and tell all' type of therapy.

CBT/H tends to deal with the 'here and now' - how your current thoughts and behaviours are affecting you now. It recognises that events in your past have shaped the way that you currently think and behave. In particular, thought patterns and behaviours learned in childhood, However, CBT/H does not dwell on the past, but aims to find solutions to how to change your current thoughts and behaviours so that you can function better in the future. CBT/H is also different to counselling which is meant to be non-directive, empathic and supportive. Although the CBT/H therapist will offer support and empathy, the therapy has a structure, is problem-focused and practical.