Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
(CBT) for Anxiety
At DeVernon Psychotherapy, we understand that anxiety can feel overwhelming, impacting every aspect of your life.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a highly effective, evidence-based approach that can help you understand, manage, and ultimately reduce your anxiety symptoms, empowering you to regain control and live a fuller life.
What is CBT?
CBT is a talking therapy that focuses on the connections between your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and behaviours. It operates on the principle that while you can't always control external events, you can learn to control how you react to them.
By identifying and challenging unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours, CBT equips you with practical strategies to respond to situations in a more constructive way.
How CBT Helps with Anxiety
For anxiety, CBT is particularly powerful because it directly addresses the core mechanisms of anxious experiences:
Challenging Anxious Thoughts: Anxiety often involves distorted or catastrophic thinking (e.g., "What if the worst happens?"). CBT helps you identify these 'thinking traps' and learn to evaluate them more realistically. You'll learn to distinguish between helpful and unhelpful thoughts, reducing their power over your emotions.
Understanding Physical Sensations: Anxiety can manifest in uncomfortable physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, or dizziness. CBT helps you understand these bodily responses as part of the anxiety cycle, reducing the fear of the sensations themselves.
Changing Avoidance Behaviours: A common response to anxiety is avoidance (e.g., avoiding social situations, public transport, or specific triggers). While avoidance offers temporary relief, it actually reinforces anxiety in the long run. CBT guides you through gradual exposure to feared situations, helping you build confidence and demonstrate to yourself that you can cope.
Developing Coping Skills: You'll learn a range of practical coping strategies, including relaxation techniques, problem-solving skills, and effective communication, to manage anxiety in real-time.
What to Expect in CBT Sessions for Anxiety
Your journey with CBT at DeVernon Psychotherapy will be collaborative and tailored to your specific needs. Typically, sessions involve:
Assessment: We'll begin by thoroughly understanding your unique anxiety symptoms, triggers, and how they impact your life.
Psychoeducation: You'll learn about anxiety, the CBT model, and how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours interact. This knowledge is empowering.
Identifying Patterns: We'll work together to identify your specific anxious thought patterns and avoidance behaviours.
Skill Building: You'll learn and practice new cognitive and behavioural techniques during sessions.
Homework/Practice: A key component of CBT is practicing skills between sessions. This might involve thought records, behavioural experiments, or relaxation exercises. This practice helps embed new habits and reinforces learning.
Relapse Prevention: As therapy progresses, we'll focus on developing strategies to maintain your progress and cope with potential future challenges.
Benefits of CBT for Anxiety
CBT is highly effective for various anxiety disorders, including:
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Panic Disorder and Panic Attacks
Social Anxiety Disorder
Specific Phobias
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
The benefits often include:
Reduced intensity and frequency of anxiety symptoms.
Improved ability to manage stress and worry.
Greater confidence in facing challenging situations.
Enhanced quality of life and daily functioning.
Long-lasting coping skills that you can apply independently.
Why Choose DeVernon Psychotherapy for CBT?
At DeVernon Psychotherapy, our experienced therapists provide a compassionate, non-judgmental, and supportive environment. We are dedicated to helping you gain insight, develop practical tools, and achieve lasting relief from anxiety. We believe in a personalised approach, ensuring that your CBT treatment plan is uniquely suited to your individual circumstances and goals.
If you're ready to take the first step towards managing your anxiety, contact us today to discuss how CBT can help you.