What Is CBT and How Can It Help? | CBT in North Somerset

Reset in Somerset offers CBT in North Somerset and Bristol. Before starting therapy, it helps to know what cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) involves and how it is meant to help. That way you can decide whether it fits your needs, beliefs and goals. This page explains CBT in plain language, whether you’re considering CBT in Somerset, Bristol or the surrounding area.

What is CBT?

CBT is a talking therapy based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings and behaviour all affect one another. How we interpret a situation shapes how we feel about it and what we do next. It is an evidence based therapy, meaning that there is plenty of research supporting its effectiveness, particularly for anxiety disorders and depression.

A simple example

Imagine you’re having a bad day. You text a friend to see if they’re free, and they don’t reply. You might think, “They clearly don’t care about me.” That thought could leave you feeling upset or annoyed. It might also change how you act. You may be a bit cold with them when they finally reply, or you might not reply at all.

Now imagine the same situation on a good day. Your mood isn’t clouding your thinking as much, so you might think, “What a shame, they must be really busy at work.” Instead of withdrawing, you send a kind message later: “I hope you’re ok, you know where I am if you need me.”

The situation is identical. The different thoughts led to different feelings and different behaviour.

How does CBT help?

At its most basic, CBT teaches you to notice these links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour, so you can start to change unhelpful patterns.

In-depth CBT goes further. It can help you make sense of why you think or behave the way you do. Often, particular life experiences explain why certain thoughts or habits developed. When people understand the “why”, they often become more compassionate towards themselves and can see more helpful ways of thinking and responding.

What can CBT help with?

CBT is widely used for:

• Anxiety, including generalised anxiety, panic, health anxiety and social anxiety
• Low self-esteem
• Perfectionism
• Low mood and depression
• Stress and worry

What happens in CBT sessions?

CBT is practical and collaborative. We work together to understand what is keeping your difficulties going, set clear goals, and try out new ways of thinking and responding. The aim is to give you a ‘toolbox’ of strategies you can use throughout life to help you manage in the future without a therapist.

Is CBT right for me?

CBT suits many people, particularly those who want a structured, practical approach. It’s a good fit if you’d like to understand your patterns and build skills you can keep using after therapy ends. Like many things in life, it isn’t a magic wand, and you need the motivation and time to apply what we’re discussing in session, to life outside of sessions. If you’re not sure, a conversation can help you decide.

CBT with Reset in Somerset

I’m Polly Haselton, a BABCP accredited CBT therapist, offering face-to-face CBT in North Somerset and Bristol, at the Little Barn in Claverham. I specialise in anxiety disorders, low self-esteem and perfectionism, and I welcome clients from Bristol and across the surrounding area. I’m just 20 minutes outside of Bristol, and 5 minutes from Yatton.

If you’d like to find out whether CBT could help, get in touch and we can arrange a quick phone call, or book an initial session.