Mental health difficulties can affect almost every part of daily life, from work and relationships to sleep, confidence and physical wellbeing. For some people, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can provide a structured and practical way of understanding difficult thoughts, feelings and behaviours and developing strategies to manage them.
At Dr Wayne Cottrell & Co in Canary Wharf, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is available with Mr Greg Quee, Psychotherapist and Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist.
Greg provides an individual, evidence-based approach to therapy, working with patients to understand the difficulties they are experiencing and develop practical strategies that can be used both during and beyond therapy.
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, usually shortened to CBT, is a type of talking therapy.
It is based on the understanding that our thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and behaviours can influence one another. When we are experiencing anxiety, low mood or another psychological difficulty, it can sometimes become easy to fall into patterns of thinking or behaviour that unintentionally maintain the problem.
CBT aims to help identify those patterns and find practical ways of responding differently.
The NHS describes CBT as a therapy that can help people change how they think and act and which is used for a number of different mental health problems.
Rather than concentrating solely on events from the past, CBT will often focus on the difficulties affecting you in the present and on developing techniques that can help you manage them.
What Can CBT Help With?
CBT is used to support people experiencing a wide range of psychological and emotional difficulties.
Depending on the individual and their circumstances, CBT may be used as part of treatment for conditions including:
- anxiety
- depression and low mood
- panic attacks and panic disorder
- phobias
- social anxiety
- obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- stress and persistent worry
- sleep difficulties
- difficulties associated with some long-term health conditions
The NHS and the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) both recognise CBT as an established talking therapy used across a range of mental health conditions.
NICE also includes CBT within its recommended treatment options for a number of conditions, including depression and anxiety disorders.
However, no single form of therapy is right for everyone. An initial assessment gives you and your therapist an opportunity to discuss what you are experiencing and whether CBT is likely to be an appropriate approach for you.
How Does CBT Work?
CBT is generally structured, collaborative and goal-focused.
Rather than simply talking about how you feel, you and your therapist work together to understand particular problems and identify patterns that may be contributing to them.
This can include learning how to:
Recognise unhelpful thought patterns
Certain situations can trigger automatic thoughts or assumptions. CBT can help you become more aware of these thoughts and consider whether there may be alternative ways of interpreting the situation.
Understand the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviour
An anxious thought, for example, may produce physical sensations and lead to avoidance. Avoiding the situation may provide short-term relief but can sometimes strengthen the anxiety over time.
Understanding these cycles is an important part of CBT.
Develop practical coping strategies
Therapy can involve learning and practising techniques to help manage difficult situations more effectively.
The strategies used will depend on the individual rather than following exactly the same programme for everyone.
Work towards agreed goals
At the beginning of therapy, you and your therapist can identify what you would like to change or achieve.
These goals help provide direction and allow progress to be reviewed as therapy develops.
What Happens During a CBT Session?
Your first appointment will usually involve talking about the problems you are experiencing, how they are affecting your life and what you would like help with.
This is also an opportunity to ask questions and discuss whether CBT is suitable for you.
If you decide to continue, subsequent sessions may explore particular situations, thoughts, emotions and behaviours in more detail.
CBT is an active form of therapy. Depending on your treatment plan, you may be encouraged to practise techniques or complete agreed exercises between appointments.
The purpose is to help you develop skills you can eventually apply independently in everyday life.
CBT in Canary Wharf with Greg Quee
Mr Greg Quee, B.Ed (Hons), AD Dip PD, PG Dip CBT, BABCP, is a Psychotherapist and Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist working with Dr Wayne Cottrell & Co.
Greg has extensive experience supporting adults, young people and parents experiencing a broad range of mental health difficulties.
His approach centres on evidence-based therapy combined with individualised care. Rather than assuming that everybody experiencing anxiety, low mood or another difficulty requires the same intervention, therapy is adapted around the individual, their circumstances and the goals they would like to achieve.
Greg’s professional background includes training as a high-intensity CBT therapist and experience working across diverse communities in the UK and internationally.
Alongside his clinical work, his academic interests have included research into innovative approaches to anxiety interventions and the potential use of Virtual Reality within therapeutic practice.
Greg is committed to providing a professional, respectful and supportive environment where patients can talk openly about the difficulties they are experiencing.
You can read more about Mr Greg Quee and the wider team at Dr Wayne Cottrell & Co.
Why Choose Private CBT in Canary Wharf?
For people living or working in Canary Wharf and the surrounding areas, being able to access psychological support locally can make attending regular appointments easier.
Appointments with Greg at Dr Wayne Cottrell & Co provide access to CBT within a private healthcare setting in Canary Wharf.
Choosing private CBT may also be useful for people looking for more direct access to a therapist without necessarily waiting for other routes of referral.
Our approach remains centred on choosing care according to the individual. Where another service or form of support would be more appropriate, this can be discussed as part of the assessment process.
Is CBT Right for Me?
You do not need to know whether CBT is definitely the right treatment before making an enquiry.
You may be considering therapy because you have noticed persistent anxiety, low mood, panic, avoidance or unhelpful patterns that are beginning to affect your quality of life.
You might also understand what is happening but feel unsure how to change it.
An initial consultation allows these concerns to be explored and helps establish whether CBT could be beneficial.
It is important to remember that CBT is not about simply being told to “think positively”.
It is a structured therapeutic approach designed to help people understand patterns, test different ways of responding and develop practical strategies for managing difficulties.
Book Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Canary Wharf
If you are considering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Canary Wharf, appointments are available with Mr Greg Quee through Dr Wayne Cottrell & Co.
You can learn more about our Cognitive Behavioural Therapy service or book an appointment online. Or call us here: 020 4579 3971
Our Canary Wharf clinic provides a confidential and professional setting in which to discuss your concerns and consider the most appropriate next steps.
Mr Greg Quee
B.Ed (Hons), AD Dip PD, PG Dip CBT, BABCP
Psychotherapist & Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist
Mental health difficulties can be challenging, but support is available. If CBT may be appropriate for you, an initial appointment with Greg provides an opportunity to discuss what you are experiencing and consider how therapy could help.
If you or someone else is experiencing a mental health crisis or there is an immediate risk of harm, CBT appointments are not an emergency service. Please seek urgent NHS or emergency support.
