CBT - cognitive behavioural therapy (age 8+)

The CYP (Children and Young People) part of the Wellbeing Service is delivered by YMCA DownsLink Group.

What is CBT?

• Cognitive means how you think about things.

• Behavioural means the things you do because of how you are thinking and/or feeling. For example, avoiding situations or asking others for reassurance.

• Therapy is about working together with a trained person who has experience in and knowledge about helping people with difficulties similar to you.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. It is most commonly used to help people who are feeling anxious or low.

CBT aims to help you deal with overwhelming problems in a more positive way by breaking them down into smaller parts. You're shown how to change these negative patterns to improve the way you feel.

Unlike some other talking treatments like Counselling, CBT deals with your current problems, rather than focusing on issues from your past. It looks for practical ways to improve your state of mind on a daily basis.

Who is CBT good for?

Anyone aged 8-18 with mild to moderate mental health needs, such as:

• Single event traumas

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Mild to moderate depression

• Social Anxiety Disorder

• Panic

• Specific phobias

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder

How much do parents/carers get involved?

How much your parents/carers get involved will vary from person to person so this is something the CBT therapist will talk through with you. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that the level of involvement you get from your parents is helpful.

Sometimes young people find it useful for their parents to be involved so they can support them and remind them of the skills they need to practice. However, sometimes they don’t! The power is in your hands.