Cognitive Behavioural Training / Therapy

All our therapy services are available at our City Centre bases in Edinburgh and Glasgow and we are considering expanding into other cities shortly.

We have two fully qualified therapists on staff, and a network of trusted colleagues around the UK we refer to.

We are complementary health practitioners, not alternative health practitioners. This means that we work WITH the medical profession. If you have an illness or injury, or if you are going to embark on a new diet, fitness plan or if you have any uninvestigated symptoms, you must consult your medical doctor. 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy / Training

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy / Training, or CBT as it is usually known, is a special form of Psychotherapy. Like Life Coaching, personal development training or NLP, it is often provided in a training format. Therefore some practitioners may consider themselves "clinical counsellors" who provide CBT, others may prefer to consider themselves "trainers" who empower their clients while still working through deeper issues.

This web page is not meant to give an in depth or technical description, but instead a basic idea for the layperson considering CBT.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is a very practical form of therapy. Like Life Coaching it aims to make discernible changes in a client's behaviour and lifestyle in order to help them.

CBT is widely recognised as a scientifically tested and verified psychotherapeutical method of overcoming common emotional problems. 

With CBT you identify errors in the way you may be thinking or perceiving things, and from there learning to adopt more helpful thoughts, attitudes, philosophies and beliefs.

Cognitive:

In lay-mans terms this is our perception and identification of things around us. We may have faulty perception for a number of reasons. This may for example be due to obsession or trauma colouring the way we see things.

Behaviour

This is simply the way be act, behave and react to what we have already noticed going on around us. Again we can learn to act inappropriately for a number of reasons, often again because of trauma or obsession.

Therapy

The process of understanding, relearning and retraining in order to change these errors from occurring and having a negative impact on us. Care is taken to have a non-judgmental attitude. The client is helped to challenge their own perceptions and behaviours. It is most certainly NOT about the therapist telling you how to act and think!

What to expect from Cognitive Behavioural therapy?

You will be encouraged to examine, challenge and understand your perceptions and behaviours. Where appropriate you will be set exercises and challenges to help you change these for more positive thoughts and behaviours.

It is quite normal to expect "homework" from your therapist. Indeed Stuart uses his own award winning training pack with clients, formulated from real life practice over more than 12 years.

What conditions are commonly treated with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is effective in a very wide range of issues. Some common issues however are:

• Anger Management
• Depression Management
• Anxiety Management
• Stress Management
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
• Pain Management
• Eating Disorders
• Morbid Thoughts
• Phobias and Fears
• Social Interaction Problems and Phobias
• Addictions
• Being Appropriately Assertive
• Confidence and Self Image
• Being more Positive and not a negative Pessimist
• Enjoying more Healthy Relationships with people

Please note this is not an exhaustive list.

Is this the same as Life Coaching?

Yes and No! In a sense Life Coaching is a form of CBT, although dealing with far less serious issues. You could say that Life Coaching is boosting the person, CBT is dealing with real underlying problems first and then boosting them!

Definitely Life coaching and CBT are related, but most life coaches are not equipped to handle deeper clinical issues that you would work on with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. CBT is a form of Psychotherapy, Life coaching is a watered down form of therapeutical training and boosting.

Additional Types of CBT

There are some additional types of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. These include:

SIT: Stress Innoculation Therapy. This is often used for stress management and phobia management.

REBT: Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy.  Focuses on addressing where beliefs and thought processes have become flawed or irrational.

CRT: Cognitive Restructuring Therapy. Focuses on identifying how illogical perceptions and beliefs have been created.

Attributional Therapy: Focuses on working on the values and meaning that people place on events, people, things and other factors.

Although some CBT practitioners tend to favour one or more approach, most are eclectic and tend to combine a range of CBT types and methods. There is a definite value in looking for a therapist / trainer who uses a range of CBT and therapy types, since these are more likely to deal with important underlying patterns and causes as well as providing superficial surface work.

In the first instance drop us an email or use the feedback form to contact us. We can then advise whether we feel we can appropriately assist you.

To Contact Therapy Services 

Assistance is not just for individuals. Assistance is available for couples, families and those who care for others.