Brett Buchanan

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Brett is a qualified CBT Counsellor having completed the COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills and Diploma in Counselling and Groupwork, A Cognitive Behavioural Approach in 2008.

He has a wide range of experience having worked as a volunteer counsellor at CRISIS Erskine, Renfrew Association for Mental Health and The Second Chance Project dealing with drug and alcohol addiction.  He is also a trained Bereavement Counsellor and is currently in practice with CRUSE Bereavement Care Scotland.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Brett is an individual Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and abides by their ethical code of conduct.

WHAT IS COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY (CBT)

CBT is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave.  It is a clinically and research proven therapy for a wide range of mental health problems in adults, young people and children.

CBT can help you to change how you think (Cognitive) and what you do (Behavioural) by challenging negative automatic thoughts and the associated feelings and behaviours that may be causing you problems.

A CBT approach may look at the origins of your disturbance, often in childhood.  Importantly, the approach will focus greater emphasis on how the disturbance affects you in the ‘here and now’.  Your CBT Therapist will introduce you to tools and techniques designed to support increased self-awareness of your thoughts, feelings and subsequent physical responses in the present. 

CBT is an empowering approach that supports the idea that you are the expert on you.  Through awareness of self and the CBT model, you are encouraged to become your own therapist.  Building confidence and trust in yourself offers an opportunity to step away from negative past experience and to consider a more desirable future.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING CBT SESSIONS?

With CBT, you’ll usually have a session with the therapist once a week or once every two weeks.  This may change as you progress through therapy and would be decided collaboratively between yourself and the therapist.

Each session will last for 50 minutes and as you progress through your course of therapy, it is likely you will be asked to complete work between sessions.

The length of treatment may vary depending on each individual.  CBT is a time limited approach, designed to encourage a solution focus.  As such, an initial course could expect to last for six sessions.  Where appropriate, further sessions would be discussed, again collaboratively between yourself and the therapist.

WHAT CAN CBT HELP WITH?

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) provides independent, evidence based guidance for the NHS on the most effective ways to treat disease and ill-health. NICE recommends CBT in the treatment of the following conditions:

• Anxiety disorders (including panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety and shyness)
• Depression
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Diagram illustrating a typical continuous cycle relating to depression and anxiety.

There is also good evidence that CBT is helpful in treating many other conditions, including:

• Stress
• Low mood / self-esteem
• Phobias
• Bereavement
• Chronic Fatigue
• Chronic Pain
• Sleep Difficulties
• Anger Management
• Addictions
• Trauma