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Can you do CBT for depression?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most evidence-based psychological interventions for the treatment of several psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorder, and substance use disorder. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy vs Psychotherapy In a nutshell: psychotherapy tends to cover a broad range of therapy options, including CBT, and provides improvements with consistent sessions over the longer term. CBT, on the other hand, is a type of psychotherapy that is typically used in the short-term. Most psychologists will have training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT, the ‘gold standard’ treatment for a range of mental health difficulties. Some psychiatrists will also see patients for CBT alongside medication management, though many will manage only medication. CBT is freely available on the NHS, although services can be limited and waiting lists long in some areas. Your GP will be able to tell you what mental health services are available in your area, and refer you for assessment if appropriate. If CBT is recommended, you’ll usually have a session with a therapist once a week or once every 2 weeks. The course of treatment usually lasts for between 6 and 20 sessions, with each session lasting 30 to 60 minutes. It is possible to do CBT on your own through self-help courses. However, it is important that these are provided by reputable, trusted organisations. Our online courses are completely free to access and delivered by NHS therapists, helping you to understand your problems and build on the coping skills you use.
Can I do CBT on myself?
Can I do CBT by myself? You might be able to do CBT by yourself, including through a computer or workbook. This could be useful to try if you are waiting for treatment. Or it might remind you of some good techniques, if you’ve had CBT in the past. Many studies have found that self-directed CBT can be very effective. Two reviews that each included over 30 studies (see references below) found that self-help treatment significantly reduced both anxiety and depression, especially when the treatments used CBT techniques. Criticisms of Traditional CBT Given the dominance of CBT in certain settings, it is not surprising that the approach has garnered its fair share of critics. Opponents have frequently argued that the approach is too mechanistic and fails to address the concerns of the “whole” patient. Research shows that CBT is effective for anxiety, whereas counselling is less so, and as such counselling for anxiety is not offered in the NHS. There are two main forms of CBT, e.g. low intensity and high intensity, and many types of counselling, e.g. person centred, gestalt, humanistic, integrative, etc.