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COGNITIVE THERAPY

Cognitive therapy is a widely used form of psychotherapy and the most extensively researched of all the psychotherapies. It has been empirically proven to be useful in the treatment of a variety of psychological conditions including anxiety, phobias, depression, within a relatively brief time frame.

Underpinning cognitive therapy is the belief that there is a direct relationship between the way we think, the way we feel, and the way we behave.

It is now widely accepted that people with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, phobia's, severe health concerns and many other psychological difficulties develop maladaptive ways of thinking. The aim of therapy in helping patients overcome their problem is to help change their way of thinking. Through a variety of cognitive and behavioural strategies patients are taught to identify their maladjusted thought patterns and how to change these thought patterns for more rational thought processes to help them regain control over their lives.

Over the past twenty years cognitive therapy has become a source of increasing focus within psychology and psychiatry. There are numerous books and thousands of research articles on cognitive therapy and its use in the treatment of depression and preventing a depressive relapse than drug treatment.

Cognitive therapy is a 'short-term' therapy, usually requiring no more than between ten and twenty sessions. Cognitive therapists are frequently more active and directive than therapist working with less structured psychotherapeutic models. A collaborative relationship between the patient and therapist is encouraged for optimum benefit to be gained.