A practical, evidence-based approach that explores the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours — and how changing one can shift the others.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a widely researched approach to understanding and changing the patterns that keep us stuck. The central idea is that our interpretation of events — rather than the events themselves — shapes how we feel and how we behave. By examining and gently challenging these interpretations, we can create real shifts in our emotional experience.
CBT identifies several common patterns of thinking that can contribute to distress, sometimes called cognitive distortions. These might include catastrophising, all-or-nothing thinking, self-criticism or assuming the worst of other people's intentions. These patterns are not character flaws — they are often learned responses that made sense at some point but no longer serve us.
CBT typically explores three interconnected areas:
I draw on CBT techniques as part of a broader integrative approach, particularly when working with anxiety, low mood, or specific patterns of behaviour you want to change. I use CBT tools alongside relational and exploratory work and the balance between these is shaped by what you find most helpful.
In practice, CBT-informed work might involve:
CBT is often described as a skills-based approach, which means you can leave sessions with practical tools to use between appointments — making the work feel concrete and applicable to your day-to-day life.
If you recognise unhelpful patterns in your thoughts or behaviour and would like support in changing them, I would be glad to hear from you. I offer a free initial consultation with no commitment.
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