Practising cognitive behavioural therapy

Table of contents: What is CBT? The CBT Triangle What do we do in CBT? CBT tools Connected notes What is CBT?Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) sounds like a mouthful. But the big idea behind it is very simple: our thoughts, our feelings, and our actions are constantly talking to each other. Whenever something happens in your day, your mind reacts on three connected levels: What you think: The story or interpretation running in your head. What you feel: Your mood, plus the feelings in your body, like a knot in your stomach or a tight chest. What you do: The choices, habits, and actions you take next. When one of these parts gets stuck, the other two usually get pulled down with it. Imagine you have to give a short presentation. Your brain might pop up with a thought: "I am going to stumble and make a fool of myself." That thought sets off a feeling: your stomach drops and your palms sweat. Because your body feels anxious, you put off practising until late at night. And because you…