About Virtual CBT

CBT is a form of psycho-educational training where the following criteria are present:

1. CBT training where clients are taught to step back and treat their thoughts, images, attitudes and beliefs as hypothesis to test rather than as facts. These thoughts are then challenged using thinking errors and reality testing to replace negative thoughts with more balanced alternatives.
2. Behavioural techniques to reduce low mood and symptoms associated with anxiety and depression.
3. Behavioural experiments conducted outside the session to augment the counselling work.
4. Reading material which is given to support the counselling themes.
5. Sessions are taped using a voice-activated dictaphone to aid in the development of a reflective practitioner. The average client only retains 15% of what is experienced in the counselling session and being able to reflect back on the experience aids the treatment outcome, reinforcing what has been learned, and appropriating the work on a more personal level.

All of the rudiments of successful CBT treatment are not compromised by using the virtual treatment mediums. These include:

• collaboration between therapist and client
• the effective use and delivery of the cognitive model
• the ability to empathise, and understand the clients world view
• 100% confidentiality through the use of a secure server
• assessment based effective diagnostic criteria based on semi-structured interview and diagnostic tests
• successful treatment outcome based on specific aims and objectives and an individualised treatment programme.

The expertise of an experienced CBT practitioner can provide a competent therapeutic relationship through the video or telephone counselling medium throughout the entire global village, providing effective CBT treatment without the expressed need to leave their home, office or workplace environment.

This service would appeal to client's for a variety of reasons.

1. Clients location would make it difficult / impossible to access Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy.
2. Clients time-pressure, work deadlines, and work-based travel make it difficult to commit for the normal counselling time-scale.
3. Clients family commitments make it easier to have treatment on-line at home.
4. Clients prefer an initial face to face assessment, and then combine both treatment modalities.

How does virtual treatment work?

The procedure is the same for on-line or an initial face to face assessment. Clients telephone or email The Centre for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to book an initial assessment session. This session is pre paid using a debit or credit card and can be done either by phone or over the Internet via a secure online form. The fee for this is £85 per fifty minute session.

After the initial session a treatment plan is designed based on a problem list that includes 5 - 6 things the clients wants to change as a result of therapy. In the literature the statistical average for the treatment of anxiety and depression is 12 - 20 sessions but this is only a baseline figure.

Clients complete the treatment when they feel have met the objectives for treatment both they and the therapist have decided upon.