Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) at Plymouth Hospital

What is CBT?

CBT can help you to change how you think ('Cognitive') and what you do ('Behaviour'). It’s a short-term form of talking treatment that uses evidence-based (clinically proven) techniques to help you.

It’s a way of helping you to solve problems and improve the way you think and feel through a solution-focused and goal-oriented programme.

CBT therapy is a collaborative process. Together we’ll work towards resolving your issues in a safe and expert environment; making you happier at home, at work and in your social life.

Is CBT right for me?

We understand that acknowledging you need help can feel scary. And it takes courage to reach out for support. CBT has been proven to effectively deal with many problems, no matter how big or small they may seem to you.

Our experienced team is here to listen to you. Please give us a call and we can assess your situation and advise if we think CBT is right for you.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends the use of CBT for a wide range of mental and physical conditions including:

• Depression
• Panic Disorder
• Agoraphobia
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder
• Specific Phobias
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Relationship and Sexual problems
• Eating disorders
• Personality disorders
• Habit disorders
• Pain management
• Chronic fatigue
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Insomnia
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Low-self esteem
• Gambling
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar affective disorders

Face-to-face therapy sessions

CBT therapy is a collaborative process between you and your therapist. Together you work towards resolving your issues in a safe and supportive environment. CBT can help you to make sense of overwhelming problems by breaking them down into smaller parts. This makes it easier to see how they are connected and how they affect you.

Clients take an active part in therapy and you may be asked to carry out “homework” between sessions; this could be completing a task to test rules and assumptions that might be maintaining your problem.

The emphasis is on finding solutions that work for you, so that every client can become their own therapist by applying new skills and techniques to old patterns of thinking and behaving.

Sessions are typically 50 minutes to 1 hour. The frequency of the sessions will be tailored to your needs.

You can decide to start therapy at any point. Your GP may have recommended CBT or you may be choosing to explore therapy yourself. You can pay for your own sessions or you may have private medical Insurance that covers CBT sessions. We can help you work out your best route to support.

Online CBT options

We also offer online therapy options which provide greater flexibility if you can't travel to your nearest therapist.

Therapist-Guided Online CBT

Our guided online therapy programme gives you the tools to improve your mental health, with the support of an emotional wellbeing expert, in 8 weeks. You'll also have access to online learning resources for a full 12 months.

Self-Help Online CBT

Our self-guided online therapy programme aims to give you the tools to improve your emotional wellbeing in the long term, following the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, with access to online resources for 12 months.