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I am a Clinical Psychologist with vast work experience in various areas of the field of Psychology. I have also collaborated with other health professionals throughout my career.
BACKGROUND:
SPECIALISING IN THE TREATMENT OF:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
WHAT IS CBT?
Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies are Psychological approaches which are based on scientific principals driven by research trials and found to be effective for a wide range of problems. Patients and clinicians work together to identify and understand problems in terms of the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behavior.
The approach is “here and now” focusing on the identification of personalised, time-limited therapy goals and strategies, which are continually monitored during the course of treatment. Patients are usually taught how to use alternative coping strategies to help them face up to their challenges.
This approach can be used to help anyone irrespective of ability, culture, race or gender.
WHAT DOES "COGNATIVE" MEAN?
Cognitions are the way a person interprets events as well as images, thoughts and attitudes. Put simply, a person’s mood reflects the way they think. By changing the way they think, they can change their mood. It does not mean “thinking positively” – but rather thinking and acting realistically and to challenge self-defeating beliefs.
Challenging self-defeating beliefs is a skill that can be learnt and much emphasis is placed on homework tasks for the patient to complete between sessions.
Therapy is based on a structured program of self-help with the clinician acting as a guide or supervisor. Patients are asked to monitor the effects of tasks or experiments in a diary, which is reviewed at the start of the following session.
WHAT IS THE "BEHAVIORAL" COMPONENT?
For some problems, the most powerful way of changing beliefs is to act against them, such as phobias and obsessions. The emphasis therefore helps patients change the way they act, by repeatedly facing up to their fears on their own until the anxiety fades – a strategy called graded self-exposure, such as anxiety disorders.
For most problems, these tasks are closely integrated from the beginning of therapy.
CBT is a cost-effective, short-term form of treatment.
We do claims with most Medical Aid schemes