Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of therapy that treats a wide range of mental issues. The therapy establishes and enhances the interaction between cognition, emotion and behavior. It helps you develop alternative ways of thinking and behaving to reduce mental problems. But before you get started with CBT, you must check to ensure you’re eligible.
You’ll be eligible for cognitive behavioral therapy if have the following issues.
1. Addiction
You’ll be eligible for CBT if you have alcohol and drug addiction. CBT has two main components in treating addiction: functional analysis and skills training.
The functional analysis involves looking at the causes and consequences of a behavior. The best CBT in London will work with you to identify the thoughts, feelings and circumstances that led to and followed drinking or using.
Skill training helps you to unlearn maladaptive behaviors and learn or relearn better coping skills. You can use the skills in situations that would trigger you to relapse into using drugs or alcohol.
2. Anxiety
Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in treating anxiety disorders. It is based on the assumption that your thoughts affect how you feel and, subsequently, how you behave. Therefore, CBT tries to identify and understand negative thinking patterns and replace them with more realistic thoughts and practical actions.
3. Depression
If you’re suffering from depression, cognitive behavioral therapy might be right for you. It uses various techniques that help you relieve your thoughts and restructure your emotions and thoughts positively.
4. Anger Issues
Anger issues result in problems at work and home, leading to health problems or physical violence. CBT helps you to recognize, cope with and express your anger healthily and productively. It changes how you think and behave, shifting your emotional state away from anger.
5. Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental health issue with serious complications. You’ll experience mania and depression, loss of focus, hallucinations and more. CBT helps identify the triggers and work towards changing them positively to avert the issue.
6. Personality Disorders
You’ll be eligible for cognitive behavioral therapy if you have personality disorders. The therapist will use various techniques to help you adopt healthy coping skills and achieve a good quality of life.
In addition, you’ll be eligible for cognitive behavioral therapy if you have the following conditions:
- Insomnia
- Low self-esteem
- Stress management
- Phobias and panic attacks
- Eating disorders
How to Prepare for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
If you want to get started with CBT, ensure you follow these steps to prepare
- Find a therapist: You can seek a referral from your doctor, friends or your health insurance plan. Check their experience and their educational background to ensure you’re working with the best. Also, look at their credentials and licensing to ensure you have a qualified and legitimate therapist.
- Consider the cost: if you have health insurance, check for what it covers. Also, inquire from the therapist about the feelings and payment options.
- Identify your concerns: First, identify the issues you would like CBT to solve before going to the sessions. Knowing the problem will give you a strong starting point and purpose.
Conclusion
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a popular and well-researched type of psychotherapy. It is based on the idea that your thoughts are responsible for emotions and behaviors. It utilizes ideal techniques and approaches to treat various mental issues. If you have any of the above problems, you’ll be eligible for CBT and need to start soon.