View Full Version : cognitive behaviour therapy?
Ok today was the big day where i saw my dr about my problems, she diagnosed general anxiety and agrophobia, has referred me for cbt, this starts march, i know nothing about this but have heard good things about it, what actually happens during a session?
Does it really help?
Susie
Hi Aarcal
There is a description of what CBT involves on the site here (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/NMPcms.php?nmppage=therapy).
I have just started CBT and have had 4 sessions now. Basically at the first one my therapist took a bit of history and we talked about what I want to work on and achieve from therapy.
In sessions since then we have been looking at further defining goals, cutting them down to more easily manage step and which one(s) to work on first and which are more long term.
We have also spent time each week on whatever I have been dwelling on during that week, picking apart my thought processes and working on challenging the thoughts by either exposure to whatever I'm anxious about (but in very small steps), or changing the meaning to me of my thoughts, which I often know 'rationally' are unlikely but the 'feelings' get to me and spiral.
I am feeling more optimistic about this treatment than others I've had in the past, even though it is early days. I'd recommend giving it a go, particularly if offered it on the NHS. I've been given every kind of treatment except this on the NHS and now find myself needing to self fund.
Good luck.
Karen
Cbt is really good so work hard and you will achieve your goals with it.
nomorepanic
23-02-07, 12:09
Susie
I will post you some links once I get them fixed from the move to the new forum. I did CBT last year and it really helped.
CBT helped me and if I can do it anyone can. Unlike you, it's something I learnt on my own without the help of a professional which goes to show how easy it is. I can recommend a book called Mind Over Mood which tells you more about CBT. I agree with CeCe - if you work hard, you'll achieve anything but you need to face your fears in order to do that. So what are you waiting for???
Needansas, great reply and very inspiring. I didn't read that book but I like the title, who was the author? We used and i recommend the book by sam obitz for beginers because it was the one we read first in my group and it was short and easy and author struggled with anxiety and told his story of overcoming it with cbt which was almost as encouraging as your previous note:D With cbt it truly is up to you if you succeed or not and your efforts determine how much success you have and how fast you achieve your goals. It is very socratic. Like you said the sooner you dive into it and face your fears the sooner you will start feeling better.
aarcal - I'm on the list myself. I'll be happy to post feedback as and when it hapens and share with others what I find from it. So far *everything* I've heard here has been positive.
Krakers.
wobily_lin
26-02-07, 14:29
Wow this is great news hun...and so quick too..I had to wait ova 2 yrs to even get a referral to the MHT...
I will be restarting my CBT on thurs...
It will be hard hun but stick with it and give it you're best shot ok..just keep going.
I'm so so pleased for you.x
Does it always take a long time to get into cbt in the UK? I feel for you guys if it does, but like needansas said it is quite simple to do on your own if you are self motivated and plenty of good cbt books to guide you through the process. Whether you have a therapist or not cbt generally falls on the individual's shoulder to get better with it.
Anyone? Does it always take a long time to get into cbt in the UK? Thanks.
nomorepanic
22-04-07, 21:16
The waiting time in my area is at least 6 months.
Some here wait years for it!
i had to wait prob about 14-18 months... and when i did finally go my therapisat wasn't all that good anyway... bl**dy NHS
I think it depends on where you live. It can take years or weeks.
Alabasterlyn
23-04-07, 09:21
Anyone? Does it always take a long time to get into cbt in the UK? Thanks.
I am in the UK and was referred for CBT a few years ago. It was around June/July when I was referred and in the September I had an assessment by a psychologist and social worker and the CBT started in the October. I was told I could have a whole year of weekly therapy on the NHS, which I thought was pretty good considering how bad the NHS can be when it comes to mental health resources.
hi alabasterlyn, you are lucky in my area i have been told there is no help by my doctor but before i moved i had a course of cbt, i waited nearly 12 months for a place to become available and was then given a SIX week course!! i hadnt even made it past the front gate before the course ended and then you dont even get a follow up.
Jacqui x
Alabasterlyn
23-04-07, 16:04
hi alabasterlyn, you are lucky in my area i have been told there is no help by my doctor but before i moved i had a course of cbt, i waited nearly 12 months for a place to become available and was then given a SIX week course!! i hadnt even made it past the front gate before the course ended and then you dont even get a follow up.
Jacqui x
It does seem to be a case of pot luck with CBT in this country. To be honest I didn't really find that my course of CBT did me an awful lot of good. However I do actually think CBT is a very good therapy, I just didn't feel my therapist was that good. For probably a third of the year I was having therapy my psychologist would be either off sick or on holiday :mad:
I was hoping that CBT would mean my therapist would actually go out with me right from the start, but it was after about 8mths of therapy that she started to do this. We actually only went out once, which was walking around a farmers field close to where I live in temperatures of 96f. I went out of my house full of panic and came home feeling exactly the same and even I know that the whole point of exposure therapy is to stay out until the symptoms subside. This experience really made me question my therapists approach and when the next week she suggested meeting me in the middle of a 140 store shopping mall on my own, well of course I said no way.
The following week I received a letter saying my therapy was being withdrawn due to the fact that I seemed to have 'trust issues' with my therapist. This was about 3/4yrs ago and I haven't sought any more treatment since then.
well where do i start, i have had CBT, several times like you my therapist would be unable to see me,but instead of letting me know this i usually found out when i got there, now considering i have to ask people to take me to these places,plus i would be dropped off was really embaressing as i would then have to ring them and ask them to turn round to pick me up, i am agoraphobic to see a therapist you have to go to them, which when youre terrified to go out of the house is really hard to do,i only trust certain people to either take me or drive with me(i need to know that the person im taking with me can drive)the therapists round where i live do not do home visits, they say "if you really want to get better then you will come to us not visa versa" so you set off to see them,you usually see people who have never had panick or anxiety in their life and then they start talking clap trap for example:when you go out only go as far as you can when you feel any anxiety turn back keep doing this for as long as is comfortable then move onto the next step, so you do what they say, then what happens one day youre walking the route that youve been doing for 3 months when BAM there it is sheer panic,everything youve learned goes through the window as youve never really been taught how to cope in a panic situation, really all youve been doing is learning how to avoid the anxiety, nobody actually takes you out anymore and shows you how to really cope in anxious situations, nobody shows you that youre not going to collapse from anxiety by asking you to stay in that situation untill it subsides, i had one therapist who took me on a bus with her to the centre where she was seeing me, the next week she rang me up and asked if i would go on the bus and meet her at the centre, when i said no she then replied" that if i wasnt going to help myself then she was wasting her time" to which i replied "if you think that me coming on a bus with you for the first time in years is going to cure me youre sadly mistaken, especially when on that occasion i had'nt stepped out of the house for 6 months, i havent really had a therapist that i could really trust, they see you for roughly 8 weeks and then its a case of well theres the paperwork theres nothing else we can do so get on with it theres never no follow up and you cant phone them if you feel like youre having a bad day or something as far as there concerned theyve done their part, youre left out in the cold, next patient please
Thank you all so much for the replies, but I am sorry to hear that cbt is so hard to get into in GB. That must be a nightmare and I feel for you guys as I don't think I would have been able to be as patient as you guys all have had to be:mad:
Yes CeCe - sometimes people wait for years or more often give up and pay privately.
It's not enough therapists - or good well trained ones.
Karen
That's really sad to hear Karen. If it is any consolation it is difficult finding well trained cognitive therapists here also:huh:
I had a nine month wait for my inital assessment and now i have another 18 before i get to start therapy!
Our health system over here stinks, especially the mental health part. They just want to push pills and get you out the door in many cases. But I can't even fathom the thought of being diagnosed and then waiting a year and a half to get help:ohmy:
Hi blu are you in therapy yet? I'm hoping they found a way to squeeze you in sonner than expected.
Hi - I forgot I'd even subscribed to this post, let alone posted. Its been a while !
I did get to see my CBT guy a few months ago, and was simply dismissed. He refused to treat me while I was on meds and drinking. My Doc actually said that there's a shortfall in the NHS of consultants who treat cross disciplines. He went as far as to say that they are sooooo short staffed that its easier for specialists and their case loads to discharge or refer on to someone else.
Needless to say I was referred on. I'm now with the ADS, and have another appointment on November 1st. Will let you all know how I get on.
Krakers.
stormers74
06-12-07, 14:01
There is a chronic shortage of qualified CBT therapists in this country and the United States, although the recent announcement from the NHS allocating 100 million for CBT therapies, is a good start, although waiting lists can be up to 18months long especially for eating disorders.
Its very important to find a qualified CBT practitioner, It is not regulated, and I could set up shop as a CBT practitioner with ease.
And CeCe, the US medical system is very different from the UK one, its a totally different model, and doesnt focus particularly well at Mental Health Issues, and Mediacre doesnt go far enough to help effectively.
I'm having my first appointment with a therapist next week,It's been arranged through work with a private occupational health company.When I saw my Doc. yesterday I mentioned it to him naming the therapist, my Doc said the therapist was extremely good and because of the demand for him he has left the NHS and gone into private practice.
Could it be that the problem with the NHS is that it doesn't pay it's staff well enough to keep them ?.
As for the effectiveness of the therapy ? well I'll keep you posted - I must admit to feeling a bit negative about it at the moment as I feel their only interest is in getting me back to work asap with the least amount of cost to the employers, but we shall see.
My step mother suffered Post Traumatic Stress disorder after being involved in a very bad car accident. She was off work for nearly a year because of it. After having CBT though she is now recovered and has been back at work for 2 months now.
I have just started my CBT after a 6 month wait, have only had 2 sessions and i am really scared about the idea of doing things that could make me panic but my step mum said it really is worth it in the long run so i'm going to push myself.
I hope it works out for you, my counsellor has also said it can make you feel worse before you start to feel better but don't let that put you off, just let it prepare you!
x x x
Krakers sorry I did not respond sooner. The holidays got crazy and I am just now finding time for myself again. That is simply ridiculous to me that they dismissed you like that. How did your appt in November go? I sure hope you are able to get qualified CBT therapy soon, but it sure seems like they want you to give up before you ever get a chance to try in your country. Keep in touch :)
Its very important to find a qualified CBT practitioner, It is not regulated, and I could set up shop as a CBT practitioner with ease.
This is true but that is really scary that it is not even regulated in your country:shrug:
And CeCe, the US medical system is very different from the UK one, its a totally different model, and doesnt focus particularly well at Mental Health Issues, and Mediacre doesnt go far enough to help effectively.
I certainly agree with that last part. It sure seems like both our country's models leave a lot to be desired:mad:
Take care and thanks for the reply.
Could be the case Decca, but I certainly hope you were helped enough and are feeling better now.
My step mother suffered Post Traumatic Stress disorder after being involved in a very bad car accident. She was off work for nearly a year because of it. After having CBT though she is now recovered and has been back at work for 2 months now.
I have just started my CBT after a 6 month wait, have only had 2 sessions and i am really scared about the idea of doing things that could make me panic but my step mum said it really is worth it in the long run so i'm going to push myself.
I hope it works out for you, my counsellor has also said it can make you feel worse before you start to feel better but don't let that put you off, just let it prepare you!
x x x
It has worked well for me and I continue do my TEA form exercise daily and I feel like I am continuing to make more progress and keep my anxiety under control better. It definitely is hard work at first but once you start making progress you kinda forget the hard part from the beginning:)
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