People sometimes ask why I chose to train as a CBT therapist rather than in another approach.
The truth is, when I look back, it was probably the obvious choice all along.
Long before I became a therapist, I was involved in competitive equestrian sport. As a young athlete, and later working alongside elite performers, including athletes preparing for the London 2012 Olympic Games, I saw first-hand how the way we think can influence the success of what we do.
Confidence matters. Self-belief matters. The way we talk to ourselves matters.
Whether I was competing myself or supporting athletes working towards ambitious goals, it was impossible to ignore the impact that thoughts, beliefs and mindset had on performance.
At the time, I wouldn't have called any of that CBT.
But looking back, many of the ideas that later drew me to CBT were already there.
I've always been interested in helping people move forward
Across all of my careers, there's been a common thread.
I've spent years helping people navigate difficult situations and move towards something better. That was true in sport, it was true throughout my years working in healthcare, and it's true now as a therapist.
I've never been particularly interested in simply understanding a problem and stopping there. I like understanding what's happening, working out what might help, and then supporting someone to put that into practice.
That's one of the reasons CBT felt like such a natural fit for me.
I wanted therapy to feel active
When I experienced therapy myself, I realised that while being heard and understood is incredibly important, I also wanted something more.
I wanted a sense of direction. I wanted to understand why I was feeling the way I was, what might be contributing to it, and what I could actually do to help myself move forward.
That's what I love about CBT.
It helps people make sense of what's happening, but it doesn't stop there. It helps people build confidence, develop new perspectives, test out different ways of responding, and gradually create change in their lives.
For me, therapy isn't about fixing people. It's about helping people understand themselves better and feel more capable of handling whatever life puts in front of them.
Why the evidence matters
My healthcare background probably influences this part.
CBT is one of the most researched forms of therapy and is widely used within NHS Talking Therapies services for difficulties such as anxiety and depression.
As someone who spent many years working in healthcare, that matters to me. I wanted to train in an approach that had a strong evidence base behind it.
At the same time, I've spent enough years working with people to know that no two individuals are the same.
Research matters, but so does the person sitting in front of me.
One of the things I value most is flexibility
People are often surprised when I say this, but I don't see CBT as rigid.
Good CBT shouldn't feel like following a script.
In some settings, therapy needs to fit within particular service structures, treatment pathways and timeframes. Private practice gives me much more flexibility.
It means I can adapt the work to the individual rather than focusing solely on a diagnosis or protocol.
Some clients benefit from a very structured approach. Others need more space to reflect, process and explore.
Sometimes we spend time understanding where certain patterns have come from. Sometimes we focus on practical changes that can make a difference right now. Most of the time, it's a combination of both.
What I hope people leave therapy with
Ultimately, I don't want clients to leave therapy knowing lots about CBT.
I want them to leave feeling different. I want them to feel lighter, more capable, and able to trust themselves a little more than they did when they first arrived.
Life will always contain challenges.
My hope is that when those challenges show up, clients leave therapy feeling better equipped to handle them.
That's why I chose CBT.
Not because it's a set of techniques.
But because, when it's delivered well, it helps people understand themselves, move forward, and realise they're often far more capable than they thought.
Meta description:
Why I chose Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: an evidence-based, flexible approach that helps people understand themselves, build confidence and move forward.
