Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
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Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the therapeutic modalities offered at PCP – The Perry Clayman Project. It was developed in the 1960s and has been researched extensively on how it can positively impact a person’s mental health, wellness, and challenges with addiction. At PCP – The Perry Clayman Project, it is used in conjunction with a variety of different treatment modalities in order to help each client heal as a whole person.
Research on CBT has looked at who it is effective for. Findings indicate that CBT helps with depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. In addition, CBT benefits individuals struggling with personality disorders, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The reach of the positive effects of CBT makes it extremely useful in treatment, and the fact that research proves its positive impacts ensures that it is often part of the treatment process for mental health challenges, substance abuse, or a combination of both.
Key Components
The aim of CBT is to help a client see their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours more clearly. These components of a person’s life all intersect. Feelings and thoughts interact with certain feelings, causing thoughts and vice versa. This is also true of behaviours and their connection with feelings and thoughts.
In CBT, clients have the opportunity to examine their feelings, thoughts, and behaviours. As they see them clearly, they also begin to recognise patterns. Some patterns between behaviours, thoughts, and feelings are healthy and helpful, while others are not. For example, if a pattern is that every time a person feels stressed, they think that the world is going to end, their mental health and well-being are negatively impacted.
Through CBT, clients learn to identify patterns as well as thoughts, behaviours, and feelings that they identify with. These beliefs about who they are are important in their decisions. Therefore, as they begin to delve deeper, they can work on changing core beliefs that are no longer serving them in their life.
What Occurs During Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy?
A CBT session looks different for each person. However, it often begins with a session where the client shares with the therapist what they are struggling with. This may include a variety of pieces that help the therapist get to know a person’s internal landscape.
The following sessions will vary. They often include relaxation exercises and problem-solving techniques that help a client get more acquainted with new ways of being with themselves. However, they also involve a significant amount of awareness. Building awareness in CBT might look like keeping a journal of feelings, thoughts, or actions. However, it also involves discussing experiences in a manner that helps the client connect the dots between their thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Many aspects of CBT are similar to other therapies. CBT differs as it is a short-term process. The aim is to help improve a client’s awareness and patterns, rather than serving as long-term support for a client.
Benefits of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
CBT is significantly helpful for many clients. It helps clients improve their self-awareness. As a skill, self-awareness is incredibly helpful. When a client is self-aware, they have information on themselves. This helps them in addressing any problem. For example, if a person knows they feel hurt, they can take steps to comfort themselves through social connection or other healthy means.
Additionally, CBT is helpful in changing patterns. Humans are highly reliant on patterns. These patterns make up a person’s daily life and, therefore, are significant in the challenges they face. When a person improves their awareness of their patterns and begins to make changes, their life changes. This might look like learning to manage stress in a healthy way. However, it may also look like learning techniques to address addiction habits.
Who Is Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy Right For?
CBT is useful for a variety of clients with many different challenges at PCP – The Perry Clayman Project. Essentially, it is ideal for individuals who are in need of change. These changes can be related to identity and self-worth. However, they can also be related to behaviour, choices, and substance use.
Changing behaviours is extremely helpful for clients struggling with addiction. Addiction is a disease that impacts the brain and neurotransmitters. However, it is often perpetuated by thoughts, behaviours, and actions. The patterns surrounding a person’s thoughts, behaviours, and actions are therefore important to address. CBT helps clients struggling with addiction to take strides toward recovery. This is because in CBT, the patterns that are addressed not only help them get through treatment but also provide them with tools and patterns that support long-term recovery in their lives.
CBT is also highly impactful for individuals with mental health challenges. While mental health challenges and addiction are very different, good mental health also relies on patterns. When a person learns about their current patterns and take steps to improve them, their mental health also improves. For example, learning to manage stress and improve thoughts related to self-worth has a significantly positive effect on a person’s well-being and mental health, including depression. Therefore, CBT offers a way forward for individuals who have a variety of mental health issues.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) offers a way forward for clients who are looking to make significant and effective changes in their lives and is, therefore, an important part of treatment for addiction. Call PCP – The Perry Clayman Project today at 08000 380 480 to learn how you can take the first step towards recovery and how we can help you build a better life.