CBT is based on the concept that your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions are interconnected, and that negative thoughts and feelings can trap you in a negative cycle.

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, 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.

Uses for CBT
CBT has been shown to be an effective way of treating a number of different mental health conditions.

In addition to depression or anxiety disorders, CBT can also help people with:

bipolar disorder
borderline personality disorder
eating disorders – such as anorexia and bulimia
obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
panic disorder
phobias
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
psychosis
schizophrenia
sleep problems – such as insomnia
problems related to alcohol misuse
CBT is also sometimes used to treat people with long-term health conditions, such as:

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
fibromyalgia
chronic pain
Although CBT cannot cure the physical symptoms of these conditions, it can help people cope better with their symptoms.

What happens during CBT sessions
If CBT is recommended, you'll usually have a session with a therapist once a week or once every 2 weeks.

The course of treatment usually lasts for between 6 and 20 sessions, with each session lasting 30 to 60 minutes.

During the sessions, you'll work with your therapist to break down your problems into their separate parts, such as your thoughts, physical feelings and actions.

You and your therapist will analyse these areas to work out if they're unrealistic or unhelpful, and to determine the effect they have on each other and on you.

Your therapist will then be able to help you work out how to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.

After working out what you can change, your therapist will ask you to practise these changes in your daily life and you'll discuss how you got on during the next session.

The eventual aim of therapy is to teach you to apply the skills you have learnt during treatment to your daily life.

This should help you manage your problems and stop them having a negative impact on your life, even after your course of treatment finishes.

Counselling is a talking therapy that involves a trained therapist listening to you and helping you find ways to deal with emotional issues.

Sometimes the term "counselling" is used to refer to talking therapies in general, but counselling is also a type of therapy in its own right.

What can counselling help with?
Counselling can help you cope with:
a mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety or an eating disorder
an upsetting physical health condition, such as infertility
a difficult life event, such as a bereavement, a relationship breakdown or work-related stress
difficult emotions – for example, low self-esteem or anger
other issues, such as sexual identity

What to expect from counselling
At your appointment, you'll be encouraged to talk about your feelings and emotions with a trained therapist, who'll listen and support you without judging or criticising.
The therapist can help you gain a better understanding of your feelings and thought processes, and find your own solutions to problems. But they will not usually give advice or tell you what to do.

Counselling can take place:

face to face
in a group
over the phone
by email
online through live chat services (learn more about online tools for mental health)
You may be offered a single session of counselling, a short course of sessions over a few weeks or months, or a longer course that lasts for several months or years.

It can take a number of sessions before you start to see progress, but you should gradually start to feel better

Life coaching

Mindfulness therapy is a type of psychotherapy, or talk therapy. Psychotherapy is a conversation-based intervention provided by a trained mental health professional to assess, diagnose, and treat dysfunctional thought patterns and behaviors.2

Mindfulness therapy does this by incorporating awareness of thoughts, emotions, feelings, surroundings, and situations. It involves conversations with professionals that help a person develop greater awareness of their thoughts and the world around them. This increased awareness helps them avoid destructive or automatic responses or habits.1

Types of Professionals Who Provide It
Different types of professionals may provide mindfulness therapy, including psychologists and therapists. Other health professionals, such as licensed professional counselors and licensed clinical social workers, may also incorporate mindfulness.

Sessions can be delivered one-on-one or in a group setting and in an office or virtually via video conferencing.

Mindfulness Techniques vs. Therapy
While other practices such as yoga and meditation do include mindfulness techniques, this is not considered mindfulness therapy because it does not include psychotherapy with a mental health professional. However, some mental health professionals do incorporate meditation in psychotherapy.3

Conditions Treated and Concerns Addressed
Mindfulness therapy is used to treat a variety of different medical conditions, both mental and physical. Additionally, it can help to address concerns that are not limited to medical conditions.

Some examples of the health and life benefits of mindfulness therapy include improved focus and memory, empathy and compassion, and increased overall quality of life.4

Mindfulness therapy can be used for:5

Anger management6
Anxiety
Autism
Chronic illness (for example, respiratory conditions)
Chronic pain (including arthritis)
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Heart disease
Stress
Depression4
Improved immune function4
Mental health (obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
Diabetes mellitus7
Other conditions in which mindfulness therapy may help include:8

High blood pressure
Insomnia
Substance misuse and addiction
Eating disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder

Defining Person-Centered Therapy
Person-centered therapy, also known as Rogerian therapy, was developed during the 1940s by humanist psychologist Carl Rogers. It is a form of therapy that shifts the focus from the mental health professional to the client, who is empowered to take control of the therapeutic process. Rogers believed that every person, regardless of their mental health struggles, desires and is capable of reaching their full potential.

This therapy practice steers away from the idea that human beings are flawed and require treatment for their problematic behaviors. Instead, it provides clients with the tools and resources they need to understand themselves and what they need to achieve positive change in their lives.1

Client vs. Patient
The term "client" is used on purpose in this type of therapy to avoid implying that the person seeking therapy is sick. Using the word client instead helps to empower the person seeking help by emphasizing that they are in control of their life and future and are capable of overcoming any difficulties they face.

How It Works
In person-centered therapy, the client and the therapist work as a team. The therapist is supportive and avoids the use of judgment, suggestions, or solutions for the client's problems.

Person-centered therapy is a type of non-directive therapy that is empathetically driven toward providing a person with a safe space to talk, self-actualize (realize your full potential), and make positive changes in their life.

Person-centered therapy can help with various types of mental distress including:

Anxiety1
Psychosis2
Dementia3
Depression4
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Other mood disorders5
What to Expect
Person-centered therapy can be utilized one-on-one or in a group setting. There are both inpatient and outpatient programs available.

Your first session will begin much like a meet-and-greet, in which you will get to know one another. Your therapist will want you to talk about what brought you to person-centered therapy and go over how the therapeutic relationship will work if you choose them as your therapy partner.

If you are interested in person-centered therapy, you can contact your healthcare provider for recommendations.

What Techniques Are Involved in Person-Centered Therapy?
There are three main techniques used in person-centered therapy. Each technique is designed to help a person become more aware of their own behaviors in a safe space. When this happens, people are then able to make the necessary changes needed to recover.6

Genuineness and Congruence
The genuineness and congruence technique involves the therapist being genuine and harmonious toward their clients. The therapist is open and honest about their thoughts and feelings and, by doing so, teaches their clients the ability to do the same.

This technique also teaches the client self-awareness and knowing how thoughts and feelings affect a person’s experiences.

Clients feel safer when their therapist acts in this way, which in turn builds a trusting relationship between both client and therapist. Trust in the relationship allows clients to be more comfortable opening up in a genuine way.7

Unconditional Positive Regard
Unconditional positive regard is total acceptance. This means that the therapist always completely accepts and supports their client when participating in client-centered therapy.

The therapist takes all of their client's feelings and emotions seriously and validates what they are feeling. They also offer reassurance through active listening and positive body language.

How Does Unconditional Positive Regard Help?
When your therapist practices unconditional positive regard, you are likely to feel safe opening up fully, without fearing how they will respond. Research suggests that when a person's experiences and emotions are validated, this type of therapy can be very effective.5

Empathetic Understanding
Empathy is the true understanding and sharing of feelings between two people.

In person-centered therapy, the therapist uses empathetic understanding in an effort to get to know who you are, the way your experiences shape your life, and your point of view of the world, yourself, and the people in your life.

The main goal of empathetic understanding is to ensure that the client feels completely understood in everything they say. This is done in a way that gives clients the opportunity to gain insights into themselves that they may not have had prior to beginning therapy

What Are the Benefits of Person-Centred Therapy?
There are many benefits associated with person-centred therapy including:

Improved self-awareness
Improved self-concept (the way you see yourself)7
Greater trust in oneself and one’s own abilities
Healthier relationships with others based on an improved view and understanding of oneself
Healthier communication skills
Improved ability to express opinions and feelings
Ability to let go of past hurt or mistakes
Ability to strive for healthy changes that make one's life better