COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY

There are many effective treatments a psychologist can provide you with and teach you to recover, that are medication free.

A popular treatment is CBT or cognitive behavioural therapy. CBT is an evidence based psychotherapy tool and involves identifying unhelpful thinking patterns related to unhelpful negative emotions. Then, restructuring them into more functional thought patterns. The aim here is to help you feel and be better.

CBT can be applied to all kinds of conditions with excellent results including phobias, panic disorder, generalised anxiety, social anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and chronic pain.

CBT can be combined with other treatments including DBT, ACT, SFT, mindfulness, meditation, medical hypnotherapy, and more to target various health conditions. 

CBT for IBS and IBD follows the same format as general CBT. That is, it addresses the self-defeating thoughts, poor coping, and inadequate self-management skills that negatively influence patient factors such as catastrophising, visceral hypersensitivity, fear avoidance, and black and white thinking. An exposure hierarchy can be conducted by the practitioner to assist with gradual exposure to feared situations to help with improving stress and behavioural management in stressful scenarios. 

For people with moderate to high levels of psychological distress, CBT is not usually effectively implemented in a 15 minute consultation with a medical practitioner. 

This approach may in fact, lead the patient to short lived success followed by a sense of failure and hopelessness, as the logical and helpful thoughts identified in the consultation are easily forgotten. 

Psychologists study a 6 year science degree at university to learn the complexities of the mind and how to use CBT to improve thoughts, related to moods, related to actions. 

To make it a little more clear, imagine you have two people on the furthest ends of the thought spectrum -

1. A person with highly disregulated thoughts. These could be related to psychosis, schizophrenia, clinical anxiety, depression, bipolar, neuro divergence, or personality disorders.

2. A fortunate person with highly functional thoughts. These could be related to highly  successful behavioural outcomes and achievements.

Now consider, how long it has taken for the person's mind to form these thoughts or neural pathways and how long it can take to unravel them and improve them?

At the clinic we also use acceptance, values and goal setting work, mindfulness, guided meditation, polyvagal theory, somatic body work, and growth mindset strategies to support you.

TEC Social Anxiety Course

The TEC Social Anxiety Course is a structured group treatment designed to equip individuals with practical skills and strategies to effectively manage social anxiety. Utilising cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), our program is rooted in the understanding that thoughts greatly influence emotions and actions.

Key Components:

1. Education about Social Anxiety: Understanding the nature of social anxiety and its impact on thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
2. Cognitive Therapy: Learning to identify, question, and change unhelpful thought patterns contributing to social anxiety.
3. Exposure Therapy: Developing a personalized plan for gradually confronting and overcoming feared social situations.
4. Attention Training: Cultivating the ability to focus on the present moment and effectively manage attentional biases.
5. Realistic Self-Image Development: Gaining insight into how social anxiety distorts perceptions of self and others, and developing a more accurate self-image.

Program Structure:

• The course consists of 10 weekly sessions, each lasting 2 hours.
• Sessions are held periodically throughout the year at our clinic in Sydney.
• Led by registered and clinical psychologists experienced in treating social anxiety disorders.

Enrollment Information:

• Due to high demand, there may be a waiting list for enrollment, typically several months in advance.
• To attend the Social Anxiety Course at TEC, individuals are encouraged to obtain a referral from their GP or psychiatrist.

Fees:

• As a privately-run clinic, our services are offered at a fee. Please inquire for current pricing information.

Take the First Step:

If you're ready to take control of your social anxiety and embark on a journey towards greater confidence and well-being, reach out to your GP or psychiatrist for a referral to the TEC Social Anxiety Course.

Coming Soon