Cognitive behaviour therapy is a flexible approach in changing maladaptive or rigid ways of thinking and feeling. It is not the events themselves, purely the meaning a person gives them. Negative / anxious thought patterns that build over time, become a belief system and fail to change. By identifying these negative or distorted perceptions, the therapist / clinician can evaluate and change the way the patient / client is thinking and ultimately feeling.

Because this therapy is pertaining to the client’s individual needs and focuses on their negative / anxious thought patterns and processes, they will learn to become more flexible and able to accept and adapt new cognitive skills. CBT therefore encourages better coping skills and strategies and more importantly, well into the future creates and maintains a significantly reduced relapse rate.

For example, a person with an anxiety state has learnt to use avoidance tactics to specific places / things. With CBT they will gradually learn new ways to overcome this and realize these were not life threatening situations after all. With learning a new alternative viewpoint, they also realize they have more control, and in the long term, increases their self-esteem and confidence levels.

All humans have the ability to change the way they are able to deal with emotional issues, by focusing on the way their thoughts, images, beliefs and attitudes they use. If they hold maladaptive or dysfunctional thought processes, from perhaps negative learned responses, this often initiates mental health problems such as depression, which frequently generate co-morbid mental health attributes, such as anxiety, sleep disturbance, or sleep depravation.

During the cognitive behavioural sessions, a plan of action by the therapist is essential. Providing (homework) self-help assignments for the client is particularly important, as the client is encouraged to participate in their own therapy regime. Their dysfunctional way of thinking is often habitual 24 hours a day, therefore it is essential they record and even change these thinking patterns during this time. This therapeutic structure is valuable, so the client recognizes there is valuable support and a plan of action in progress. This in turn leads to a successful outcome.

Feedback at the beginning of each session is vital, such as what has worked and what has not. The emphasis is on collaborating together and to experiment and explore different ways for the individual client to overcome their difficulties.

As the defined maladaptive cognition's are explored and identified by the therapist, then a flexible approach can be incorporated during the session within hypnosis. I call this internal focused CBT, which leads to a quicker recovery rate.

CBT is effective in the following :-  Clinical Depression,  Major Depression Disorder,  Anxiety States,  Panic Attacks,  Insomnia,  OCD,  Anorexia,  Bulimia, Eating Disorders,  Sexual Dysfunction, Social Fears,  Weight Reduction,  Relationships,  besides many other presenting mental health issues.

David Kato PhD has been a Cognitive Behaviour Therapist since 1995 and utilizes these techniques for the above stated problems with great effect. David teaches a comprehensive two day CBT diploma course for hypnotherapists, which is ideal for providing clients with a higher successful outcome.

Please go to

www.hypnotherapist-training.com or the Academy For Continued Hypnosis Education www.ache-international.com