Help - have my first CBT appt this afternoon

[Cat98]

It's not the proper one, it's the consultation thingy before it all starts (NHS). I don't know what to say, everything's so complex. On the surface it looks like relationship stuff but if they go deeper I know there are huge issues with my mental health. I just don't know where to start when explaining! I feel ok now because of my tablets but I know they are just masking the problem. can anyone offer any advice? What should I expect?

Hi Cat - you may have already left - and yes I can offer advice. Calm down! The session will start by the therapist explaining something about CBT and it's aims to get people to replace negative thinking with more balanced thinking, to prevent the spiralling downwards that often happens when we are depressed. In all probability they won't go "deeper" because CBT is about the "hear and now" not the "then and there".

If there are these huge issues that you know are the root cause of your depression you will need a psycho-dynamic counsellor or a CAT (cognitive analytical therapy) therapist and they aren't on offer on the NHS.#

Glad you feel ok on the tablets but of course they treat the symptoms and not the underlying problem. Can you afford a psycho-analytical therapist - they charge areound £50 an hour.

I'm having NHS CBT - it is really helpful (I've had about four sessions so far). Don't worry about what to say - just be guided by what your therapist asks you. The first session is very informal - they will just want to work out what areas of your life you need help with and ask you very general questions about stuff.

NanaNina I may be the exception but I had 14 sessions of really good psychotherapy on the NHS under the Improved Access program.

It is worth asking.

I have a CBT appointment next week so will be interested to hear how it went Cat98

Ok Madmouse - had no idea this was available - what is the Improved Access programme? You are in the UK aren't you - would you be prepared to say whereabouts (vaguely) as I reckon that different PCTs have differing views about this. It was my GP who told me that only 6 sessions of CBT were offered on the NHS. However very recently I have had an appt with an NHS psychologist (first one just exploratory) but she is passing me over to a student on placement but that's ok - we all had to learn our trade somewhere! My CPN arranged this - and suspect it was because I was an inpatient, but not totally sure. There was no mention of how many sessions and it is therapy to fit the client's needs, so it may be helpful - hope so.

here NanaNina

Thank you everyone. It went fine - he did actually ask me loads of stuff and I felt all emotionally exhausted afterwards, but I think cbt will help. He says I have panic disorder? But the waiting list now is 12 months again until I can be seen! I can do a group session in May though. Has anyone done a group session of cbt?
That's interesting madmouse. I told him about some of the past issues but he didn;t say anything about psychotherapy.

Madmouse - thanks for that - will have a proper look when I have more time.

Cat98 - I don't think a CBT therapist has the expertise to diagnose your specific mental illness. It really needs to be a consultant psychiatrist ot very experienced GP in MH to diagnose. Anyway glad you think it will help. No I don't have any experience of groups, but it certainly can't do any harm if it doesn't do any good.