Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is  a common route for those who want to improve their outlook on life.

We all have a voice in our head that expresses our thoughts and feelings. After experiencing a traumatic event, such as the death of a loved one, the voice can sometimes turn sour. Like us, the voice has to adjust to life changing moments, bottling up emotions can cause confusion in our own heads.

The negative thoughts can become more prominent than the reasonable and positive thoughts. This could result in viewing yourself and your loved ones in a bad light. If you don’t try to help yourself manage these thoughts at this point, it will make it difficult to have an optimistic outlook on your life.

How does CBT work with negative thoughts?

CBT Practitioner Jack Williams believes this route of therapy is useful for changing the way

you think. “Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps you to identify your dysfunctional thinking habits.”

CBT can help you manage negative thoughts by changing the way you think and behave. This method of self help is proven to produce changes in your cognition (thoughts) that fuel cycles that cause negative feelings. In doing this, CBT will help to improve your mood and how you function on a day to day basis.

How do I know if CBT is right for me?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can be a short or long-term therapy used by therapists or counsellors, to change bad thought patterns. Some people find that short-term CBT with a therapist is useful to carry on with the CBT route on their own. This route of therapy could be useful for anyone, at any point in their lives. “There are no risks with giving cognitive therapy a try. However, if it’s not helpful enough you can stop. But, the potential benefit could be great you.”

Cognitive therapy has been around for approximately 40 years, it was originally modelled to treat depression. There are now behavioural models to treat panic disorders, PTSD, anxiety and many other mental and physical conditions. “This form of therapy focuses on ‘the now’ of your thoughts and beliefs.”

Can CBT help with grieving?

There is no denying that after you lose a loved one, things won’t be the same again, but closure doesn’t mean forgetting about them. It could take some time, but thinking that you will never be happy again is not true.

Jack Williams believes when dealing with individuals who seek help with grief through CBT. He believes that asking the questions below, can help you to think about how your current thoughts  could have a negative impact on your future.

• “How can you be so sure you’ll never be happy again? “
• “Have you ever had an emotional state that lasted forever?”
• “How do you know nothing good will come your way again?”

No one can perfectly predict our own futures. Your thoughts and beliefs and how we act in ‘the now’ can have a profound influence on our future.

Key Terms

Cognitive formulation – your beliefs and behaviour approaches that define your disorder.

Conceptualisation – understanding your assumptions and your pattern of behaviour.

Cognitive model – your perception on a situation is connected to your reaction rather than the situation.

Automatic thoughts – the first thoughts and ideas that you think about regularly.

Where Can I Get Help?

If you feel like CBT could help you during a hard time in your life, below are some routes that could help you.

Your GP surgery

There are some counsellors and psychologists that offer CBT on the NHS at GP surgeries. Ask your GP if they are able to refer you to CBT in your area, alternatively, they may offer you login information for a CBT online programme.

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

Twitter: @BACP

Tel: 01455 883300 – 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Think CBT

Tel: 01732 808 626

Email: info@thinkcbt.com

Self Help Book

CBT Therapists Near You