Currently the most widely available approaches are:

• cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), 

• psychodynamic therapy, and

• humanistic therapy 

 

Numerous other talking therapies tend to fall within these three general schools; so group therapy, interpersonal therapy, solution focussed therapy, human givens, ACT, and so on, or therapies aimed at particular problems such as difficulties in relationships, fertility, addictions or other health issues, will each be seen from basically a cognitive, psychodynamic or humanistic perspective.

 

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that aims to help people perceive and respond to stressful situations more constructively, trying to discover and dismantle the patterns of thinking and behaviour that keep us locked in problems. 

 

CBT is used to help solve a number of problems such as:

• depression, 

• anxiety, 

• obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), 

• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 

• managing long-term illness and 

• eating disorders

 

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends CBT for all of these.

 

There is also some evidence that CBT is helpful for stress related physical conditions such as IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), some forms of infertility and weight management.  

 

CBT was developed from two earlier types of psychotherapy:

• Cognitive therapy: designed to change a person’s thoughts, beliefs, attitudes and expectations. 

• Behavioural therapy: designed to change a person's actions. 

 

CBT is a talking therapy that starts from the idea that the way a person thinks about a situation affects the way that they act. In turn, a person’s actions influence the way they think and feel. So it is necessary to change both thinking and behaviour at the same time.  However, it is important to stress that CBT is not merely a version of "positive thinking" - which can at times be counter productive by distracting you from facing the real fear.

 

The NHS has recently brought in the new IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) programme, using CBT to treat common conditions such as depression and anxiety. However, before you are referred to a live therapist you will usually have to try a course of bibliotherapy (reading a self-help book!), computer therapy (self-help modules online) or low intensity group therapy.   

 

CBT courses are usually short-term, for example, between six and 24 one-hour sessions, as opposed to much longer therapy with psychodynamic or humanistic