Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Gold Coast
Cognitive behavioural therapy is like a handy tool kit for all sorts of stuff that life chucks at us. It's often the go-to for most folks because it's all about pinpointing problems and giving you practical ways to handle them.
Plus, it's not going to eat up your calendar. CBT is often considered a more short-term treatment, typically needing fewer meetings than other therapies. And don't worry, it's not going to get too wild — our CBT therapy is crafted in an organised, easy-to-follow manner.
Jeffers Psychology is a cognitive behavioural therapist conveniently located at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.
How Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Works
CBT Therapy is all about talking through life's rough patches and figuring out how to deal with them. That rough patch could be a health issue, a breakup, losing a loved one, anger, or other mental health symptoms. Professional Cognitive Behavioural Therapists work with you to figure out the real problems you want to tackle and set some goals.
Next, you'll get real with your thoughts and feelings about these issues. Your therapist will help you express your thoughts, understand what you're telling yourself about the situation (that's self-talk), and explore your beliefs about yourself and others. They might suggest keeping a thoughts journal.
Then, you're going to learn to spot the unhelpful or incorrect thinking. Your therapist will guide you to understand how your thinking and behaviour might be adding to your problems. They'll ask you to really focus on how you react - physically and emotionally - in different situations.
Finally, you'll work on swapping out the negative thinking for a more positive outlook. Your therapist will help you question if your perception of a situation is based on the truth or just an incorrect view of what's happening. This bit can be tough. It might mean changing how you've looked at life for a long time. But with practice, these positive thinking and behaviour patterns will become second nature and won't need so much effort.
Hannah is a psychologist with a passion for untangling life’s intricate threads. Dio the therapy dog is here for support. Your story is worth exploring, and we’re here to help you turn the page to a new chapter of well-being.
We provide care services for a diverse array of mental health presentations. Your mental well-being journey is deeply personal and we are here to help you navigate your path towards healing and resilience.
CBT for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is like a warm, comforting blanket for those living with PTSD. It's all about shifting how you perceive your trauma, making it a bit easier to bear. CBT is your own personal compass tool, helping you navigate your reactions to those reminders of your trauma.
This type of therapy is akin to shining a light in a dark room, helping you understand your feelings a bit better. This can take away some of the edge from panic that might sneak up on you in your everyday life. With CBT, your reactions aren't as harsh; they become more manageable.
And you know those avoidance behaviours? The ones that might make you steer clear from anything that brings up memories of your trauma? CBT helps tone those down too. This can help reduce that feeling of being alone or wanting to withdraw, and make dealing with trauma triggers a smoother journey. All in all, CBT can give people with PTSD the boost they need to function optimally in their day-to-day life.
Cognitive Therapy for Mental Health
CBT, or cognitive-behavioural therapy, is a treatment for mental health disorders that helps us to recognise and shake off any harmful or distressing ways of thinking that may be dragging us down.
We all have those moments when life throws curveballs our way, and we start feeling kinda down and out like we just can't crack the code of our problems. This is where CBT steps in. It encourages us to deal with negative feelings by creating a healthier balance in our thoughts, making it easier for us to deal with those stressful times.
It's a great tool for teens and adults who might be dealing with emotional, mental or even psychiatric struggles, including anxiety and depression. If you’re still not sure if cognitive behavioural therapy is right for your mental health disorder, get in touch so we can talk things through.
CBT and Anxiety Disorders
Learning how to deal with anxiety can be somewhat like learning to ride a bike. We all wobble and fall at some point, and that's perfectly okay. But imagine if you could put training wheels on your mind, helping you steady those anxious thoughts and feelings? That's where Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) comes in.
Just as we all have our share of 'bad days', anxiety can sneak up on anyone. But the cool thing is, you've got the power to turn that around. You can press pause on a moment - you get to take a breather and decide how to react. It's not so much about the situation, but how you think about it.
You see, when we keep thinking negatively about something, we start building these patterns. This can happen a lot with anxiety disorders. But with cognitive therapy, you become a pro at spotting these patterns and can work on changing them.
And the best part? These habits stop repeating over time. So, anxiety becomes less of a mystery monster, and more of a hiccup you can manage. It's basically a way of rewiring your thoughts to better deal with situations.
Find a therapist who knows CBT thoroughly, and you'll soon be using your new effective tool to manage your mental health in your own life daily. Plus, you can use these stress management and coping skills in other situations down the line when anxiety symptoms are recognised.
Your Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Journey
CBT might not work like magic for everyone, but there are ways you can assist in making your therapy sessions worthwhile and getting the most out of it.
Look at therapy as a team sport. A doubles match in tennis, you and your therapist, against the world. A lot of success hinges on you being engaged, and co-driving decisions. Collaborate with your therapist to identify the big issues and strategise how to serve them right.
Avoid keeping secrets from your therapist. Your progress in therapy is tied to your openness - all your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Even if sharing makes your heart pound or your skin crawl, let your therapist in on your secrets.
Stick to your game plan. Therapy sessions sometimes might not be what you feel up for, especially if you're in a funk. But it's really important to resist the urge to duck out. Each session is a stepping stone towards your goal. Put some thought into what you'd like to chat about in therapy.
No magic potions here. Sorting out emotional knots can be a bit tricky and needs some elbow grease. It's okay if you feel tangled at first, as you start to unravel past and current emotional crossroads, things will, with time, come loose.
Put in work even during days-off. Tasks your therapist assigns for you to do in your downtime - like reading, journaling and more - are a shortcut to progress.
Have a chat with your therapist if you think therapy is hitting a brick wall. If after a few sessions you don't see any positive shifts, talk it out with your therapist, and maybe you can change tack or try a new strategy.
Other Care Services and Treatment Options
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Animal Therapy
Everything always gets a bit brighter with animals around! Therapy animals can elevate your mood, ease anxiety, and help you connect and open up in ways you might not with people alone.
If your looking for some non-judgmental, unconditional affection during therapy sessions, then animal assisted therapy could be the perfect fit for you.
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Schema Therapy
This isn’t your usual therapy chit-chat; it’s a full on adventure into your emotional care. And the best part? You get to rewrite your life’s script!
So, if you’re itching to break free from your difficult memories and painful trauma(s), schema therapy might just be the approach you’ve been needing.
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PTSD Treatment
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment is about finding what works best for you to regain control over your life. Weather it be chronic or complex, we can work through any PTSD concerns together.
Support from animals through animal therapy and connecting with others who understand what you’re going through can also be incredibly helpful.
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Music Therapy
Is all about using music intentionally to boost your mental well-being, helping you relax, unwind and find your groove again.
The best part? You don’t need to be a musical prodigy to benefit. Whether you’re strumming a guitar or just hitting play on your favourite playlist, music therapy offers a fun and effective way to manage your mental health.
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Depression & Anxiety Therapy
Together, you can learn practical strategies to cope with stress, negative thoughts and overwhelming emotions. Develop relaxation techniques, change unhelpful thought patterns and set realistic goals for feeling better.
Explore your emotions and work towards long-lasting positive changes in how you handle life’s challenges.
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Childhood Trauma Therapy
Understanding how childhood trauma has affected you and your relationships; find ways to cope with difficult emotions, developing healthier ways of thinking.
Use this safe space to process painful memories, build resilience, and work towards feeling more in control and at peace in your daily life.
Areas Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has been effective treatment in:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of psychological disorders and conditions. Some of the most notable include:
Depression: CBT helps individuals identify and challenge negative thought patterns that contribute to feelings of depression. By restructuring these thoughts, individuals can develop healthier perspectives and improve their mood and daily functioning.
Anxiety Disorders: This category includes generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder and specific phobias. CBT assists individuals in recognizing and altering anxious thought patterns and avoidance behaviours, leading to reduced anxiety and improved coping skills.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): CBT, especially in the form of trauma-focused CBT, helps individuals process and reduce symptoms related to traumatic experiences. Techniques such as exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring are used to diminish the distress associated with traumatic memories.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): CBT assists individuals in confronting and reducing the compulsions and obsessions associated with OCD.
Substance Abuse and Addiction: CBT helps individuals in identifying and changing the thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to substance use and addiction. This therapy can enhance self-control, develop coping strategies, and prevent relapse by addressing underlying issues.
Bipolar Disorder: While medication remains the primary treatment for bipolar disorder, CBT can be beneficial in managing symptoms and improving coping strategies. It helps individuals recognise early warning signs of mood changes and develop plans to prevent full-blown episodes.
Sleep Disorders: CBT is effective in treating sleep disorders, including insomnia, by addressing the thoughts and behaviours that interfere with sleep. Techniques may include sleep hygiene education, cognitive restructuring regarding sleep and relaxation training.
Chronic Pain: CBT can help individuals cope with the psychological aspects of chronic pain by altering how they perceive and respond to pain. It teaches pain management strategies that reduce emotional distress and enhance the quality of life.
Stress Management: CBT offers techniques to alter maladaptive responses to stress by helping individuals reframe stressful situations and develop more adaptive coping mechanisms. This leads to reduced stress and improved resilience.
Anger Management: CBT helps individuals understand and control their anger by exploring the thoughts and triggers that lead to anger. Through CBT, individuals learn to respond to provocations in more constructive and less aggressive ways.
CBT is also used in the treatment of other conditions such as personality disorders, grief, marital problems and low self-esteem. Its structured approach, which focuses on current issues and practical strategies, makes it widely applicable across various psychological difficulties.