Originally called simply “cognitive therapy,” what is now CBT was developed in the 1960s and 1970s by psychiatrist Aaron Beck, who found that helping depressed patients recognize and challenge their automatic negative thoughts had a positive impact on their symptoms. Beck drew on theories developed by psychologist Albert Ellis, the creator of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), among others, to develop an approach that was short-term and goal-oriented, in contrast to the dominant modalities of the time.

Homework is also part of the process, so you’ll be asked to fill out worksheets, a journal, or perform certain tasks between sessions.

Role playing can help you work through different behaviors in potentially difficult situations. Playing out possible scenarios can lessen fear and can be used for:

The goal of treatment is to help clients identify, challenge, and change maladaptive thought patterns in order to change their responses to difficult situations.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

it involves confronting your emotions and anxieties – you may experience initial periods where you're anxious or emotionally uncomfortable

Remember, setbacks are a normal part of any change process. The goal isn’t to achieve perfection but to build resilience and the ability to bounce back when life throws you curveballs.

If CBT is recommended, you'll usually have a session with a therapist once a week or once every 2 weeks.

The goal of CBT is to get clients actively involved in their own treatment plan so that they understand that the way to improve their lives is to adjust their thinking and their approach Depression support to everyday situations.

They’ll likely spend most of the first session asking questions and getting to know you and your thought processes so treatment can be customized for you.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

CBT may also be effective as an intervention for chronic pain conditions and associated distress. CBT can be used alone or in conjunction with psychiatric medication. Some studies have found that CBT and medication are equally effective in treating depression.

Instead, it’s about finding a middle ground, a more nuanced and accurate way of interpreting the world around you.

Outline that there are tasks (“homework”) for each week, and doing the task is like taking medication. Homework is a vital part of therapy and it is important that the patient is aware of this in the first session.