Cognitive Therapy
Most people have heard of CBT (Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy), and so I tend to use this phrase upon being questioned as to what I do.
I am a Cognitive Therapist, who is a skilled practitioner of various therapeutic areas within CBT. The various therapeutic areas within CBT that I offer are listed below. Ultimately, all these therapeutic disciplines operate within the same Cognitive Therapy model, with the same understanding of how issues are created and how we can resolve them.
There is merely a slightly different emphasis, in some cases, or in others an approach was developed to be able to obtain better results in certain areas of Cognitive Therapy.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
An approach first used by Dr. Aaron T. Beck in the 1960’s and tends to have a greater focus on Axis 1 disorders, generally challenging the more higher awareness thought processes. In this page I provide more detail on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Has a stronger focus on how to best to manage situations, where therapeutic change cannot wholly improve a condition, as part of it, is outside of the persons control. It is especially useful in helping with conditions such as chronic pain management, bereavement, and psychopathology that can be managed but not wholly ‘cured’ (such as Bipolar Mood Disorder). In this page I provide more detail on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Has a slightly different focus within the Cognitive Therapy realm, helping people to live more in the present. It comes from the acknowledgement that we spend too much time living in our heads, either in the past (guilt, regret & shame) and / or the future (anxiety). It is an extremely important arrow in the Cognitive Therapy quiver. In this page I provide more detail on Mindfulness based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
Schema Therapy
This on the other hand was developed more recently by Jeffrey E. Young as a means of treating Axis II disorders (Personality disorders). Schemas, in Cognitive Therapy are core beliefs that ultimately tend to be different aspects of self-esteem. Young developed very effective methods of treating personality disorders, with research now demonstrating that Schema Therapy is the therapeutic modality yielding the best therapeutic results for personality disorders, when comparing all psychoanalytic psychotherapies. In this page I provide more detail on Schema Therapy.
Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) / Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT)
An approach pioneered by Albert Ellis, and contains a greater focus on scrutinizing and challenging mid level beliefs. It will often, nevertheless use the more superficial levels of cognition (Automatic thoughts) as a way of penetrating down to the clients belief systems. In this page I provide more detail on Rational Emotive Therapy / Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (RET / REBT).
Dialectic Behaviour Therapy
Focuses on helping an individual to accept the often overwhelming emotion that they might be experiencing, without considering whether they are inflated due to irrational thought or not. It stems from the observation that people attempt to dodge strong emotions but ultimate end up merely strengthening the feelings and also acting out behaviours that often have destructive consequences. DBT thus strengthens a person’s ability to handle distress without losing control or acting destructively. In this page I provide more detail on Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
FAQs about Therapy
The most commonly asked questions about therapy, fees and medical aids.
Online Therapy
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Helpful Articles
Articles covering various conditions and addictions that life might throw at you. Read more to help you understand what you or a loved one might be facing.
How do I get help for myself or my loved one?
The first step in getting help is finding out whether you have a problem. A psychologist with specific training in the treatment of anxiety disorders can effectively perform a professional assessment, which will identify whether you have an addiction problem, and will recommend the treatment most appropriate for you.
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