Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

The overall aim of CBT is to provide psychological tools and techniques for clients to use to help address problems and manage their difficulties in a helpful way going forward. This therapy has been shown to improve overall psychological and physical well-being.

CBT focuses on ‘here and now’. It can help you to identify and adapt how you think (Cognitions) and what you do (Behaviours) in order to change your emotional and physical symptoms (Feelings).

CBT at RLHIM is offered for the management of Chronic Physical Health problems. Please see our “Psychological Services” webpage and leaflet for more details.

CBT is often provided remotely, using an NHS video conferencing service called ‘MyCare UCLH with Microsoft Teams’. Sessions can also be delivered via telephone, and face-to-face appointments are available on request. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, most patients report benefits from remote based therapy. As a result, we now have CBT therapists providing remote CBT, alongside face-to-face appointments based at the hospital. 

At the first appointment a CBT practitioner will do a thorough assessment. The practitioner and client work to develop an understanding of what the difficulties are occurring for the client, how they started, and what factors may be keeping them going. Practitioner and client will then identify helpful goals. Clients are given a questionnaire to complete at the beginning and end of treatment, for assessing some 4 common mental health difficulties, and progress is reviewed throughout including risk.

Clients can receive up to 16 sessions of CBT. These will often be scheduled at the same day and time weekly or occasionally fortnightly if needed, depending on client and practitioner availability. If more than 2 offered appointment times cannot be accepted by the client, we would require the client to come back to Psychological Therapies when ready to engage with the therapy, once their schedule allows.

• If you are unable to attend your assessment appointment, please let us know at least 48 hours beforehand so we can offer it to someone else.
• If you have to cancel or change the booked therapy sessions, then please give as much notice as you can so we can offer the sessions to someone else before the start date.
• If you miss more than 2 CBT appointments without letting us know in advance or good reason, you will be discharged from Psychological Services at RLHIM and back to your GP, in line with UCLH discharge policy.

Clients are to be referred internally to psychological therapies by their RLHIM medical physician. Please speak to your physician if you would like to be referred. We do not currently accept direct external referrals to Psychological Therapies at RLHIM. If you require psychological support but are not receiving any medical care from RLHIM please speak to your GP about local psychological therapy services within your borough.

All clients within RLHIM would need to be deemed as low or moderate risk in order to ensure maximum engagement can occur with the therapy. Please let your practitioner know if there are any changes in your risk levels.

Please note we are not an emergency service and therefore if you feel you cannot keep yourself safe or your risk escalates to high/crisis levels, and you require urgent help, please contact your GP for an emergency appointment or attend your nearest A&E department.

You can also call the Samaritans Helpline on 116 123 or your local Mental Health Support Line within your borough for further support.

The RLHIM is also a teaching hospital. From time-to-time other healthcare professionals may observe in outpatient clinics as part of a training course. We will always ask your permission for students to sit in during your consultation. You do not have to have students present if you would prefer not to.

British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies, www.babcp.com

NHS Choices provides information and an opportunity to provide feedback about our service at: www.nhs.uk