There are more people on capacity benefits due to mental health problems than the total number of unemployed people on job seekers allowance. By 2030 depression will be the world’s most common illness according to the World Health Organisation.
As evidence suggests that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is currently the most effective treatment available for a range of mental health problems (in particular depression and anxiety) it is recommended as the treatment of choice by The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and therefore the government. Over the last 2 years the government have spent £103 million funding the IAPTs programme (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy), the most recent initiate aimed to deliver psychological therapy (in particular Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)) to the 6 million people in the UK who currently suffer from common mental health problems. In 2011 an additional £70 million has been ear marked bringing the total to £173 million. However, it is estimated that this will only lead to treatment for 50 per cent of sufferers on the NHS.
For the remaining 3 million, and this can only be an overestimation of the figures as this number is based only on those people who have sought professional help, the prognosis is bleak. Medication, the prescription of which is more often than not trial and error, will only mask symptoms and often is accompanied by unpleasant side effects the main reason that people stop taking antidepressants). ’Talking Therapies’ and the people that offer them are rarely regulated in the private sector, leading often to the exacerbation of symptoms at the hands of someone who is not qualified and lacks the experience to manage what are often life threatening problems: in the UK over 5000 people commit suicide each year; at least 19,000 children attempt suicide – one every half hour; suicide is the number one cause of death for males aged 18-24.
The 2010 Spending Review presented to Parliament on 20.10.10 makes it clear there are going to be difficult times ahead in the UK. This will undoubtedly lead to an increase in the prevalence of distress in the population. Although the NHS is going to be spared the level of cuts that other government departments face the burden on this already overstretched service is going to be considerable.
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Thursday, 25 November 2010
The 1st CBT Session - What To Expect
First Appointment
Your Psychologist will offer you weekly (50 minute). Your treatment will begin with a period of assessment which will last between 1-3 sessions. Here you will be able to discuss in detail the problems that have led you to seek therapy. Your Psychologist will also ask you more general questions about your family, work and home life in order to build a complete picture of you and how and why your problems have developed and persisted. There will also be an opportunity to discuss how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) will be helpful for you and your psychologist will be able to give you an estimate of the number of sessions that you will need.
In order to get the most out of this first session we suggest that you spend some time before your appointment thinking about what you would like to achieve during your treatment by considering the following questions:
1. What aspects of your life would you like to change?
2. What aspect would you like to stay the same?
3. What needs to happen for these changes to occur?
4. What might get in the way of making these changes?
5. How will I know when my treatment has been worthwhile?
Treatment
Once your treatment has begun you will meet with your Psychologist once a week at the same time for a session lasting 50 minutes. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) aims to enable you to become your own therapist and so a key part of the work you do will be to facilitate this end. In line with this goal, as treatment progresses and you become more confident in your own capacity to manage your problems, the frequency of your sessions will gradually reduce (e.g. from weekly to fortnightly to monthly) with appropriate follow-up sessions offered (e.g. 3 monthly & 6 monthly).
Your Psychologist will offer you weekly (50 minute). Your treatment will begin with a period of assessment which will last between 1-3 sessions. Here you will be able to discuss in detail the problems that have led you to seek therapy. Your Psychologist will also ask you more general questions about your family, work and home life in order to build a complete picture of you and how and why your problems have developed and persisted. There will also be an opportunity to discuss how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) will be helpful for you and your psychologist will be able to give you an estimate of the number of sessions that you will need.
In order to get the most out of this first session we suggest that you spend some time before your appointment thinking about what you would like to achieve during your treatment by considering the following questions:
1. What aspects of your life would you like to change?
2. What aspect would you like to stay the same?
3. What needs to happen for these changes to occur?
4. What might get in the way of making these changes?
5. How will I know when my treatment has been worthwhile?
Treatment
Once your treatment has begun you will meet with your Psychologist once a week at the same time for a session lasting 50 minutes. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) aims to enable you to become your own therapist and so a key part of the work you do will be to facilitate this end. In line with this goal, as treatment progresses and you become more confident in your own capacity to manage your problems, the frequency of your sessions will gradually reduce (e.g. from weekly to fortnightly to monthly) with appropriate follow-up sessions offered (e.g. 3 monthly & 6 monthly).
CBT - The Basics
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is not about correcting faulty thinking as is often simplistically suggested in the press; rather it is about helping people to understand how they have become trapped by their attention, reasoning and current coping strategies and how to find ways out of these traps. The focus is on helping people to find helpful ways of thinking and behaving- it is not just about accuracy. Thinking one will die if one falls whilst trying to escape from the top floor of a burning house might be ‘true’, but it is not a helpful focus.
CBT does this by describing how we respond to the world in a way that gives us a strategy to modify our experiences when these are causing us distress. First it divides our experience in to three components; THOUGHTS, FEELINGS AND BEHAVIOURS, then it explores the interactions between them. Initially these distinctions may seem obvious. However, they are not ones that we use on a day-to-day basis as generally we respond to the world in a reasonably automatic way. So breaking our experience down in this way takes some practice.
CBT does this by describing how we respond to the world in a way that gives us a strategy to modify our experiences when these are causing us distress. First it divides our experience in to three components; THOUGHTS, FEELINGS AND BEHAVIOURS, then it explores the interactions between them. Initially these distinctions may seem obvious. However, they are not ones that we use on a day-to-day basis as generally we respond to the world in a reasonably automatic way. So breaking our experience down in this way takes some practice.
Thursday, 11 November 2010
How To Find A Good CBT Therapist
Evidence suggests that CBT is currently the most effective treatment for a range of mental health problems including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, OCD, PTSD. As such it is recommended as the treatment of choice by The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and therefore by the government. However, despite the recent introduction of IAPTs (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies), the government initiate to ensure that CBT is provided to everyone who needs it, NHS waiting lists are still up to 12months long. As a result people are increasingly seeking treatment in the private sector, however, currently the title ‘CBT Therapist’ is not protected and practice is not regulated meaning that anyone can offer CBT regardless of qualifications or experience. This leaves many people who need the best treatments delivered by the most experienced practitioners exposed. When looking for a CBT Therapist the following guidelines should therefore be followed:
1. Look for a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist. They have been trained over seven to nine years either to Doctoral or Masters level to enable people to overcome their emotional difficulties. They will have been trained to use a wide range of therapeutic techniques, one of these being CBT.
2. Make sure the Clinical/Counselling Psychologist holds a practicing certificate with The British Psychological Society. The British Psychological Society is the representative body for psychology and psychologists in the UK. The Society was formed in 1901 and has more than 45,000 members. Through its Royal Charter, the Society is charged with overseeing psychology and psychologists. It has responsibility for the development, promotion and application of pure and applied psychology for the public good. Practicing certificates are only issued to Chartered Psychologists which is the benchmark of professional recognition for psychologist. It reflects the highest standards of knowledge and expertise.
3. Make sure the Clinical/Counselling Psychologist is registered with The Health Professionals Council which monitors and regulates the practice of health care professionals.
4. Make sure the Clinical /Counselling Psychologist is accredited to practice by The British Association for Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapies . The BABCP is the lead organisation for the theory, practice and development of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the UK. BABCP Accreditation is the “Gold Standard” that every CBT Practitioner is striving to achieve. Any practitioner can be a member but to achieve accreditation with the BABCP demonstrates that the practitioner has met the rigorous criteria outlined in their core profession, qualifications and clinical experience and ensures that they are continually updating and developing their skills through ongoing training.
At The British CBT & Counselling Service all therapist fulfil the above criteria so you can be sure you are getting the Best from the Best
1. Look for a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist. They have been trained over seven to nine years either to Doctoral or Masters level to enable people to overcome their emotional difficulties. They will have been trained to use a wide range of therapeutic techniques, one of these being CBT.
2. Make sure the Clinical/Counselling Psychologist holds a practicing certificate with The British Psychological Society. The British Psychological Society is the representative body for psychology and psychologists in the UK. The Society was formed in 1901 and has more than 45,000 members. Through its Royal Charter, the Society is charged with overseeing psychology and psychologists. It has responsibility for the development, promotion and application of pure and applied psychology for the public good. Practicing certificates are only issued to Chartered Psychologists which is the benchmark of professional recognition for psychologist. It reflects the highest standards of knowledge and expertise.
3. Make sure the Clinical/Counselling Psychologist is registered with The Health Professionals Council which monitors and regulates the practice of health care professionals.
4. Make sure the Clinical /Counselling Psychologist is accredited to practice by The British Association for Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapies . The BABCP is the lead organisation for the theory, practice and development of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the UK. BABCP Accreditation is the “Gold Standard” that every CBT Practitioner is striving to achieve. Any practitioner can be a member but to achieve accreditation with the BABCP demonstrates that the practitioner has met the rigorous criteria outlined in their core profession, qualifications and clinical experience and ensures that they are continually updating and developing their skills through ongoing training.
At The British CBT & Counselling Service all therapist fulfil the above criteria so you can be sure you are getting the Best from the Best
CBT - How It Works
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is not about correcting faulty thinking as is often simplistically suggested in the press; rather it is about helping people to understand how they have become trapped by their attention, reasoning and current coping strategies and how to find ways out of these traps. The focus is on helping people to find helpful ways of thinking and behaving- it is not just about accuracy. Thinking one will die if one falls whilst trying to escape from the top floor of a burning house might be 'true', but it is not a helpful focus.
CBT does this by describing how we respond to the world in a way that gives us a strategy to modify our experiences when these are causing us distress. First it divides our experience in to three components; THOUGHTS, FEELINGS AND BEHAVIOURS, then it explores the interactions between them. Initially these distinctions may seem obvious. However, they are not ones that we use on a day-to-day basis as generally we respond to the world in a reasonably automatic way. So breaking our experience down in this way takes some practice.
CBT does this by describing how we respond to the world in a way that gives us a strategy to modify our experiences when these are causing us distress. First it divides our experience in to three components; THOUGHTS, FEELINGS AND BEHAVIOURS, then it explores the interactions between them. Initially these distinctions may seem obvious. However, they are not ones that we use on a day-to-day basis as generally we respond to the world in a reasonably automatic way. So breaking our experience down in this way takes some practice.
Thursday, 4 November 2010
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