Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a clinically and research-proven therapy for mental health problems. CBT can help people to change how they think “Cognitive” and what they do “Behaviour”, which can be an effective tool for people suffering from mental health problems. Behaviour therapy helps people reduce the connections between difficult situations and their normal reactions to them, such as fear, depression or rage, and self- defeating or self-damaging behaviour. It also teaches them how to calm the mind and body, so they can feel better, think more clearly, and make better decisions.

Cognitive therapy teaches people how certain thinking patterns cause symptoms by giving a distorted picture of what's going on in their life and makes them feel anxious, depressed or angry. When combined into CBT, behaviour therapy and cognitive therapy provide very powerful tools for stopping the symptoms and getting their life on a more satisfying track.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has been found to be effective and helpful in treating :

• Depression and mood swings
• Shyness and social anxiety
• Panic attacks and phobias
• Obsessions and compulsions (OCD and related conditions)
• Anxiety
• Eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia) and obesity
• Insomnia and other sleep problems
• Difficulty establishing or staying in relationships
• Problems with relationships
• Job, career or school difficulties
• Feeling “stressed out”
• Insufficient self-esteem (accepting or respecting yourself)
• Inadequate coping skills, or ill-chosen methods of coping
• Passivity, procrastination and “passive aggression”
• Substance abuse, co-dependency and “enabling”
• Trouble keeping feelings such as anger, sadness, fear, guilt, shame, eagerness, excitement, etc., within bounds
• Over-inhibition of feelings or expression
• Physical health problems including diabetes, coronary heart disease, epilepsy and other long term conditions
• Occupational health issues

*REFERENCE: The London School of Economics Centre for Economic Performance, Mental Health Policy Group (2006) The Depression Report:-A New Deal for Depression and Anxiety Disorders, London