Teaching Tools 3 - Cognitive Behavioural Approach for Secondary Staff and Students

Using a Cognitive Behavioural Approach to maintain emotional wellbeing and ensure positive change

Teaching Tools - A Cognitive Behavioural Approach for Secondary Staff and Students is part of the Teaching Tools series which aims to equip staff and students with the knowledge and understanding they need to effectively and safely use these potentially beneficial techniques with young people.

This programme introduces and teaches the key elements and skills of a Cognitive Behavioural Approach. Students are taught that by changing thought processes they can have a significant effect in altering behaviours.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a specific, goal-orientated therapy which often results in positive change within a short period of time, unlike traditional psychotherapy which can take many years to produce positive results. CBT emphasises the role that thoughts play in regard to both emotions and behaviours. It advocates that changing thought processes can have a significant effect upon altering behaviours. CBT offers individuals a way of talking about themselves, their world and other people and about how what they do affects their thoughts and feelings.

Unlike many other 'talking treatments' CBT focuses upon the here and now and ways to improve the individual's state of mind in the present time as opposed to focusing on causes of distress or past symptoms.