CBT..What is it ?

[Anthony 996]

I had a assessment last week with a psychiatric Doctor and was informed that I would in due course be offered a course of CBT.. While I understand what the CBT means I have no idea what the course consists of....

At the moment I am experiencing very bad anxiety and often just walk away from someone I may be talking to which is rather embaresing . But I cant help it. I f I feel under pressure I walk. If I didnt do this I would feel hemmed in and become trapped and angry.

I am now worrying that the CBT might be a group thing ? This I am just not ready for and have explained this to My Doctor. I would imagine it wont be a group type thing but part of My issues are that things go round and round in my mind.. Is this normal to worry about these things ??

Anyway sorry for rambling and back to the question... What can I expect to happen ?

As always Thank You !

Ant.

[PaulaJo]

As far as I know you can have individual CBT, group sessions or using a computer.

These links may help :-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy

http://www.babcp.com/Default.aspx

[hopeful]

Hi Ant,

The links PJ gave offer lots of info, but hope I can offer some of my experience to help reassure you.

I've been doing CBT for a few months now (it doesn't normally take that long, but my therapist and I haven't quite found the right approach yet - that does make me worry I'm a hopeless case but that's a whole other post!). It can be either individual or in groups.

Individually, we've looked at a behavioural activitation approach, which in a nutshell looks at your day to day activities and helps you focus on unhelpful activites and trying to find the ones that promote a better mood. We've spent quite a bit of time on Mind Over Mood (an excellent book you can get at all libraries) which looks at situations which causes you anxiety, and helps you analyse any thinking errors (e.g. mindreading other's reactions, catastrophising about things going wrong) and develop insight into your feelings so you can deal with and challenge the thoughts that cause you anxiety. It basically involves homework in recording your thoughts and feelings and being helped by the therapist to explore and work on these in sessions.

Please kiv I'm not a psychologist so this a very laymans summary and your therapist will explain all this properly and all the other approaches available. Everyone is an individual and will need a different approach.

I'm going to be doing a group Mindfullness course soon, which as far as I understand it is about being present in the moment and having a true understanding of your emotions as they happen so you can better deal with them. If I've got this wrong, forumites, please correct me.

Having had traditional talking therapy in the past, I really like that CBT offers a really practical approach and encourages to understand how you think and live.

Hope that helps,

H

[Anthony 996]

Thanks.

I was hoping someone with experience of attending these sessions would chip in ??


Ant.

[Zaf]

Sorry, I've only had 'normal' counselling

Z xx

[Buttercup]

From what I know CBT formats can differ in different health authorities.

I have had CBT, in my area everyone starts with having an assessment and form filling then you move to stage 1.  This is done on the telephone, the counsellor phones you once a week for an hour,  we talked through my perceptions on different things that have happened in my life. 

At the end of stage 1 there was another assessment where it was decided that I'd move onto the next stage which is face to face 1 to 1.  once I got to the end of the waiting list.

I do know that CBT is done in a group format in some areas.

xxx

[hopeful]

Hi Ant,

Did you mean you wanted to hear from someone with experience of a mindfullness group?

I did a search and was suprised that it doesn't seem to have been mentioned in the forum. I think it's a very common group CBT approach - I know Ruby Wax talked about it in her recent program.

I'm starting mine in September so keep in touch and I'll let you know how it goes.

I share your anxiety about being in a group, but I think everyone there will be in the same boat and supportive.

H x

[Sweetpea]

I did my CBT on the MIND computer on my own in a room at the MIND centre. S x x x x

[PaulaJo]

Shaz, what was that like?
Was it effective?
I've never had experience of CBT, only therapy/ psychotherapy (talking about my feelings etc) so I'm trying to imagine what CBT is like, and also what computer-based CBT is like.
It's amazing for me to consider that a computer programme might be effective!

[Sweetpea]

Yes it did help. It gave different scenarios and I had to give my answer to them. Then it would explain my answer and why I thought the way I did. It printed off all I had done each session. I also got homework to do each week. The idea of CBT is to try and change the negative way we tend to look at things. S x x x.

[Anthony 996]

Thank You all for the answers . If anything I am more confused than before. I was given no idea what form the CBT would take but I did explain that at the moment I cannot cope with people. Its the anxiety that does it I'm afraid.

I have to admit I was in a right state when I went for the assessment and broke down in tears as all I wanted to do was run.. I very nearly just walked past the medical centre where the assessment took place ..

I get very embarrassed when under pressure and this makes the feelings of anxiety even worse. Its no exaggeration to say I am at the end of My tether  at the moment and am really struggling to get by..

I may call the doctors again on Monday as things are terrible just now and I am not sure I can cope.....

Sorry its just the way things are going at this time...

Thanks.


Ant.

[Sweetpea]

Please don't apologise. We do understand. I do feel for you, I have been where you are now. I think you should ring the dr's on Monday. You should not be suffering this way. Take care. S x x x x