Therapeutic Approach

At the Dulwich Psychology Clinic I provide psychological help - assessments and treatments - based on CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) in London SE22 and via Zoom

What is CBT?

CBT is evidence-based and effective: In short, it works. When looking for help, it makes sense to choose a treatment which has strong evidence behind it, so it is likely to help you. There is a substantial volume of research evidence for the effectiveness of CBT for a wide range of psychological problems. The National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE), which systematically reviews the evidence for treatments, then backs (or doesn't) treatments, gives plenty of backing to CBT. See the NICE evidence for CBT here.
CBT is effective for a wide-range of psychological problems including:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders such as social anxiety, phobias, generalised anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Insomnia
- PTSD and trauma
- Eating disorders (bulimia, binge-eating)
- Health anxiety
- Managing long-term health conditions such as chronic pain, diabetes, COPD...
CBT is time-limited: It is classed as short-to-medium term, usually lasting from 6 to 16 sessions for common psychological problems (those listed above). It isn't open-ended, continuing for years or until your therapist thinks that you are done.
CBT is practical: Through CBT you learn strategies to better manage your mood, thinking, behaviour and body. The emphasis across these four areas will vary depending on your difficulty, experience and symptoms.
CBT is collaborative: You and your therapist are working together to understand your difficulties and to test out what will help.
CBT is problem (and solution) focused: This might sound obvious, but it is worth saying. CBT works to identify and help problematic thoughts, behaviours, emotions and bodily sensations. CBT is about focusing in on the problem and addressing it.

The example of CBT for social anxiety

The diagram on this page shows an simplified example of how someone who is anxious in social situations (social anxiety) might think, feel emotionally, feel physically and behave in a social situation.

Each element, contributes to an increase in difficulty in the social situation.

The only thing that might help the individual will be to escape (or if wise, to learn to manage and conquer through applying CBT techniques).

Social anxiety CBT formulation of what leads to the anxiety and the impact anxiety has

What does CBT mean?

The 'C' in CBT, stands for 'Cognitive' - which is really just another word for our Thinking - what we think and how we think.

The 'B' in CBT, stands for Behaviour- what we do and don't do (such as avoidance)

The 'T' in CBT, stands for Therapy - that is improving functioning, reducing limitation, reducing distress, and overcoming problems.

What is not captured within the C, the B, and the T, are the emotions and bodily symptoms or sensations that are part of our difficulties and elements that CBT addresses.

How does CBT help our thinking or cognitions?

As I've described, 'Cognitive' is the term used to capture our thinking. This has two parts:

1. Our actual thoughts:

The verbal stream, e.g., "I'm useless"
Or an image, e.g., of making a mistake and being laughed at

2. Our thought processes:

How we distort things so they fit our view of ourselves, other people and the world
How our memory becomes biased
How minimise and magnify our experiences so they 'fit'
Our awareness of our thinking

CBT brings effective techniques to address our thoughts and how we think, thought tried and tested models and strategies.

Dulwich Psychology Clinic