Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 
                 (CBT) 
                        Peter Thorburn 
                           Mess NZ
                              CBT basics
      •  Different people think differently about the same event, 
         which influences our feelings, and our responses
      •  We can be selective in our recollections and our beliefs 
         of what are ‘facts’ 
      •  These can be cognitive distortions of reality, and be held 
         without awareness
      •  These cognitive distortions can cause negative, stressful 
         and discouraging emotions through ‘automatic thoughts’, 
         and cause problematic behaviours
      •  How we think about experiences are capable of change, 
         and so change these emotions, behaviours
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                        CBT basics
         • Also, what we do affects the way we both 
            feel and think 
             – even procrastination (not doing) may cause 
               stress 
             – drug use as a dysfunctional coping approach
             – avoidance of others may cause anxiety 
               provoking situations, reduce enjoyment
         • CBT can also teach new behaviours & 
            coping behaviours 
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   Exercise 1: Scenario 
   You got the bus in to work this morning. You have 
    made an arrangement to be picked up after 
    work by your partner at 5.30 pm and are looking 
    forward to going out with her/him to dinner. 
   It is now 6.05 pm and there is no sign of them yet. 
    You know your partner likes to have a drink or to 
    with his/her colleagues. 
   Everyone else has left work and no-one  is around 
    the area. You left your mobile phone at home. It 
    is getting cold and it feels like rain.
   In your group, write down the thoughts you are having