At Paracelsus Recovery, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an integral part of our holistic treatment method. The aim of CBT is to help you identify and change unhelpful thoughts and patterns of behaviour. In doing so, you change neural pathways in your brain, which helps to alleviate symptoms and promote healing.
What is CBT?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a highly effective form of psychotherapy used to treat a wide range of mental health conditions. CBT therapists help their patients understand the relationship between their negative thoughts or beliefs and how these can lead to harmful behaviours. Once identified, a CBT therapist will use various methods to help you surmount those harmful assumptions, change your behaviours and create new coping strategies. CBT is considered the “gold standard†of psychotherapy, with studies showing a reduction of 50-75% in symptoms after just 5-15 sessions.
CBT works by identifying and changing the “automatic negative thoughtsâ€, which are specific patterns of thinking influence how we feel, to change how you feel and respond to life events. During a CBT session, your therapist will help you identify the root negative beliefs that contribute to any mental health or substance abuse dependency issues you have. For example, CBT treatment for anxiety involves identifying each emotion, situation or thought that is causing you anxiety.
Once identified, your therapist will help you replace these thoughts with more objective, realistic thoughts via various methods, such as practising positive self-talk or journalling your accomplishments. This often involves doing ‘homework’ assignments between sessions. Unlike other treatment methods, CBT does not focus on your past history. Instead, this goal-orientated and strategic approach addresses the present.
What are the benefits of CBT?
CBT is considered the most effective treatment method available for various mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, phobias, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder and substance abuse disorders. CBT is also helpful for treating eating disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcissistic abuse, stress and burnout, relationship difficulties, chronic conditions and sleep issues. CBT treatment for depression and anxiety has been shown to be as efficient as medication.
Unlike more traditional forms of psychotherapy, which can take years, CBT can settle symptoms in a matter of months. CBT is a relatively short-term approach that usually requires no more than 4 to 12 weeks, much shorter than conventional psychotherapy, which can require months or even years. That being said, CBT can be challenging because it requires a lot of commitment and willpower. While it only takes a few months, it will be time-consuming during that period. For example, in addition to the one-to-one sessions, you will receive homework and tasks to complete.
CBT helps us win control over our thoughts and develop healthier thought patterns, which has innumerable benefits for our health, relationships and lives. By examining how your worldview is shaped by your life experiences you can learn a lot about yourself and come away with improved confidence and boosted self-esteem. In addition, as CBT involves using a wide range of strategies to help overcome unhelpful thought patterns, you can pick up valuable life skills throughout the process. For example, new problem-solving skills for dealing with stressful situations that arise in everyday life, including difficulties with work and relationships.
How is CBT included in my programme?
Due to a large body of research into acupuncture, it is widely considered to be evidence-based. While most commonly used as a treatment for chronic pain, there is also evidence of acupuncture’s efficacy in treating various mental health conditions. For example, it has been found to be beneficial for those suffering from generalised anxiety disorder and as an adjunct to antidepressant medication for those suffering from depression. In addition, acupuncture has been shown to be more effective than medicine therapy for treating chronic pain with depression and research into treating insomnia with acupuncture has been promising.
An increasing number of studies have found that when treating addiction, acupuncture therapy is a highly effective complementary tool. It can help relieve cravings, aid in the detoxification process and increase overall feelings of calmness and relief from stress. Acupuncture also increases endorphins which are our body’s natural stress-fighters and pain killers. Research shows that by raising levels of endorphins in the body, symptoms of withdrawal become more tolerable.
