The Cup Is Always Half Full
Self-help guru Dr. Wayne Dyer once said, “change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change”. This quote is a powerful message for those searching to reboot their perceptions of themselves, and the world around them
For some, the stresses of life create negative ways of thinking, which over a period of time can limit them to achieving their goals. How destructive thought patterns can be depends on the individual, but in extreme cases, they could lead to depression. Changing how a person perceives themselves, and the events surrounding them, led Dr. Aaron T. Beck to develop Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. CBT is a collaborative process, in which both the patient and the therapist work together to target and solve the client’s limiting behavioural, thought, and emotional reactions.
A form of psychotherapy, CBT was created in the 1960s, and is still practiced today. It focuses on the premise that distress causes a person to form negative belief systems of themselves, which in turn go on to create distorted thought patterns. During CBT sessions, these patterns are identified, and transformed into more positive ones.
The benefits of CBT seem to be growing daily, with over four hundred studies suggesting it could help with psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, addiction, and eating disorders. Research also indicates it is effective in treating severe mental disorders, along with medical issues such as IBS, certain cancers, chronic fatigue, and stress brought on by chronic pain.
CBT is a talking therapy, and the therapist will mainly focus on the dilemmas a client is facing in the present. However, sometimes the past will be discussed as well, in order to track down how and when negative belief systems started. The duration of CBT is typically short, running from either six weeks, to six months; each session will usually run for an hour, once a week. A therapist might even decide to assign homework, such as confronting an unpleasant, or stress-creating scenario, so that their client can empower themselves outside of a session as well.
While CBT can help with anxiety, depression, and other extreme symptoms of negative self-perception, it can also promote well-being for people who have low self-worth, who are mildly depressed, or have anger management issues. Studies are unearthing the efficacy of the therapy daily, and it is proving to be beneficial for both physical and mental ailments. Our therapists at the Kingston Natural Health are certified and experienced in CBT, and are both willing and qualified to help clients of varying backgrounds. To learn more about how you or a loved one can harness the power of CBT, feel free to explore our therapists’ profile pages, or call us at 0208 549 8000 for more information.
Martyn Bignold
