What is CBT?
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” - Viktor Frankl
Frankl, a survivor of the Holocaust, captures the essence of psychological flexibility: the ability to pause, reflect, and choose our path, even amid adversity. This profound idea is the cornerstone of therapy, and is particularly relevant to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
CBT is a widely researched and effective form of psychotherapy that focuses on the interconnectedness between our thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Our thoughts are our interpretations of situations and events through the lens of our past experiences. These interpretations influence the way we live our lives, our emotional responses, our behaviours. We can get caught in cycles that can appear protective, but in the longer term can constrict our lives and perpetuate our distress.
In CBT we learn to use the ‘space’ to re-evaluate our automatic thoughts by considering the evidence, we explore the possibility of alternative interpretations and we seek to change our behaviours. We look to ‘push the comfort zone’ so that we may find new evidence that may be at odds with our initial interpretations. In doing so, we can learn to develop an improved emotional landscape, a reduction in distress, an increased sense of psychological flexibility and a greater resilience.
CBT has a strong evidence base for the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and stress/burnout, among other challenges. It might be considered an umbrella term for numerous approaches with an array of principles, skills and interventions that may be employed.
With 'In Our Nature' I use a bespoke and compassionate approach to CBT. I seek to integrate ‘third wave’ approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focussed Therapy (CFT) into my work.
If you’re interested in speaking with me about whether my approach would suit you, please get in touch by visiting the 'Contact' page on our website or sending an email to inournaturetherapyuk@gmail.com to schedule a free initial consultation. I look forward to helping you explore that vital space between stimulus and response.