Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT:

CBT is an evidence-based approach that helps individuals understand and manage mild to moderate anxiety and depression.

CBT focuses on the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Together, we explore how your thinking patterns influence emotional responses and day-to-day actions. For example:

• What do you tell yourself when an unhelpful thought arises?
• How do you typically respond or behave?
• How do these patterns reinforce difficult emotions such as anxiety or low mood?

Often, habits form that unknowingly maintain these emotional struggles. CBT helps you become more aware of these patterns and supports you in making lasting, practical changes.

Example: Understanding a Common Anxiety Cycle

Situation: You’re invited to a wedding.
Thoughts: “I won’t cope. There will be too many people. I’ll embarrass myself.”
Emotions: Anxiety, fear
Physical response: Tension, sweating, feeling hot
Behaviour: Avoids attending, cancels last-minute

In this example, the anxious thoughts create fear, which leads to avoidance. While this may offer short-term relief, it also prevents new experiences that could challenge the belief and reduce anxiety over time. Avoidance reinforces the fear, making it harder to cope with similar situations in the future.

CBT works by helping you break this cycle—so you can respond more flexibly, feel more in control, and build confidence through gradual, supported change.