Depression, anxiety, social phobia and other mental disorders are the result of distorted, irrational thought patterns. These habitual distortions in thinking, or automatic thoughts, can cause people to withdraw, panic, avoid situations or engage in other self-defeating or self-damaging behaviour. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) uses structured and directive techniques to alter dysfunctional thought patterns by weakening the connection between distressing situations and automatic reactions. Patients learns how to identify and manage irrational thoughts; to cope through controlled exposure. CBT combines two very effective forms of psychotherapy: cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. Cognitive therapy helps you understand how certain patterns of thinking are causing and maintaining your symptoms. Distorted thinking influences our emotions and can lead us to feel depressed, anxious, and angry. By changing our distorted thoughts we can control our behaviours and feelings. Behaviour therapy weakens the connection between situations and the automatic reactions to them. Reactions such as withdrawing and isolating, avoiding situations, and engaging in other self-defeating or self-damaging behaviours, can cause depression, anxiety and other unpleasant feelings. Changing our behaviours we can control our thoughts and feelings. CBT can offer powerful tools to help you understand why it is what you do, and how to change and control the way you think, feel and behave
