Understanding CBT Therapy: A Path to Behavioural Freedom
What is CBT Therapy?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a structured, evidence-based approach designed to help individuals manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. By identifying and challenging negative thought patterns, CBT enables people to develop healthier perspectives and coping strategies. This form of therapy is widely used for anxiety, depression, phobias, and stress-related disorders, making it a versatile and effective treatment option.
How CBT Therapy Works
CBT therapy focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. I can help you recognise unhelpful thinking patterns that contribute to emotional distress. Through guided discussions and practical exercises, you will learn to reframe negative thoughts and adopt healthier responses to challenges. The structured nature of CBT ensures progress is measurable, empowering you to take control of your mental well-being.
The Benefits of CBT Therapy
One of the main advantages of CBT therapy is its practical and solution-focused approach. Unlike some traditional therapies that explore past experiences in depth, CBT concentrates on present difficulties and ways to overcome them. It provides individuals with lifelong skills to manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health concerns. Many clients experience significant improvements within a relatively short period, making it an appealing choice for those seeking effective therapy.
CBT for Anxiety and Depression
CBT therapy is particularly beneficial for individuals struggling with anxiety and depression. By addressing distorted thinking patterns, it helps reduce excessive worry and negative self-perceptions. I encourage you to engage in activities that promote positive emotions and challenge avoidance behaviours that reinforce anxiety and low mood. Over time, this structured approach leads to greater emotional resilience and improved overall well-being.
CBT Therapy at Behavioural Freedom
At Behavioural Freedom, I provide tailored CBT sessions to help you navigate your mental health challenges. My compassionate and professional approach ensures that each person receives the support they need to achieve lasting change. Whether you are dealing with stress, phobias, or intrusive thoughts, CBT therapy can empower you to take control and build a healthier mindset.
About me
I’m Gillian Wingard. For 25 years I worked in the fast-paced, continually-changing corporate world of sales and recruitment as a senior manager. I witnessed first-hand how stress and anxiety in such a pressure-cooker environment affects people at all levels. That’s why I started Behavioural Freedom.
That notwithstanding, I have also struggled personally with workplace stress and anxiety, how it feels and how to effectively treat it and my life experiences make me the perfect person to work with you to relieve whatever issues are stopping you from living a full, happy and worry-free life.
I studied Hypnotherapy and specifically Hypno-CBT, the combined use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Hypnosis at the UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy and the course is centred fundamentally on modern psychological approaches.
It is one of the leading courses of its kind in the UK and was developed by Donald Robertson, a highly-acclaimed and respected writer, therapist and trainer and author of The Philosophy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (2010), The Practice of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (2012) and Build Your Resilience (2012).
By using such an effective and proven combination of therapies, Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH) is widely believed to be the treatment of choice for a growing number of conditions treated on the NHS over the next five years.
Evidence-based medicine is considered the way forward in selecting treatments for clients in the NHS and there is no reason why therapists shouldn’t do the same. There are many studies on the most effective types of psychotherapy and also on the most effective therapeutic methods and techniques. Cognitive therapies, CBT and hypnotherapy consistently score as the most effective therapies in meta-analysis of psychotherapies.
I am honest, easy to talk to and approachable. I have suffered with panic attacks, stress and anxiety myself and I sought hypnotherapy which I found both amazingly effective and profoundly life changing. Hypnotherapy opened up my mind and the way I thought and approached the aspects of my life that were causing me concern. I understand how the thought processes that go on inside your head can be adapted and amended to take a different journey, one of freedom of thought and behaviour.
I decided to change careers as I have the transferable skills to work with different types of people, the life experience to understand what individuals may be feeling from the effects of stress and anxiety and an overwhelming desire to help people become free from unwanted behaviours.
I have been married for over 25 years and have a son and a dog called Chewy. With spare time at a premium, I’m a passionate and vocal Arsenal season ticket holder and I love eating out and spending time with my family.
Take the First Step Today
Seeking therapy can be a transformative decision. CBT therapy offers a structured and proven way to address mental health difficulties, providing the tools to foster resilience and well-being. If you are ready to make a positive change, get in touch with Behavioural Freedom today to learn more about how CBT therapy can support your journey toward a healthier and more fulfilling life.