Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a talking based therapy that helps people understand how their
thinking patterns affect their emotional responses and influence their behaviour. The goal of treatment is
to identify dysfunctional patterns and replace them with more helpful ones. The client learns how their
negative core beliefs were first formed and how these contribute to current issues. A range of strategies
are used to challenge these patterns on a cognitive, emotional and behavioural level, both in session and
as homework activities. CBT has a good evidence base and is widely used to treat a range of mood
disorders and other conditions.