Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in Wokingham, Berkshire

Name: Wokingham Therapy Clinic
Brand: Wokingham Therapy Clinic
SKU: hd-local-wokingham-01

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the most extensively researched and effective psychological therapies available. It is recommended by NICE as the first-line treatment for anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, PTSD and insomnia, among many other conditions, and has a large body of clinical evidence supporting its effectiveness. At Wokingham Therapy Clinic, CBT is delivered by a qualified CBT therapist in a confidential, supportive environment.

What is CBT?

CBT is a structured, time-limited psychological therapy that focuses on the relationship between thoughts (cognitions), feelings and behaviours. The central principle of CBT is that it is not events themselves that cause emotional distress, but the way we think about and interpret those events. When we are experiencing mental health difficulties, we often fall into patterns of unhelpful thinking – catastrophising, overgeneralising, all-or-nothing thinking – that maintain and amplify our distress.

CBT helps you identify these unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours, understand how they contribute to your difficulties and develop practical strategies to change them. Unlike some other forms of therapy, CBT focuses primarily on the present rather than exploring the past in depth, though it does recognise how past experiences can shape current patterns of thinking.

CBT is a collaborative process – your therapist works with you as an equal partner, not as an authority telling you what to do. You will be an active participant in your own therapy, and much of the work happens between sessions through agreed exercises and experiments.

Conditions CBT can treat

CBT has strong evidence for a wide range of mental health conditions, including:

Anxiety disorders – generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), health anxiety, social anxiety
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Depression – mild, moderate and severe
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Specific phobias – fear of flying, heights, needles, animals, vomiting
Insomnia – CBT for insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold-standard treatment recommended by NICE
Eating disorders
Chronic fatigue syndrome and long-term physical health conditions
Low self-esteem and self-confidence difficulties
Relationship and interpersonal difficulties
Anger management

CBT can be used by people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities and identities, and can be delivered alongside medication if prescribed.

What does CBT treatment involve?

CBT is a structured, collaborative process. At your first appointment, your therapist will take a detailed assessment of your current difficulties, personal history, goals and any previous treatment. Together, you will develop a shared understanding of your difficulties using a CBT model – identifying the thoughts, feelings, behaviours and physical sensations that maintain the problem.

Treatment then focuses on working towards agreed goals through a combination of:

Cognitive techniques – identifying and challenging unhelpful thinking patterns, developing more balanced and realistic ways of interpreting situations
Behavioural techniques – behavioural activation, graded exposure, behavioural experiments to test out predictions and break unhelpful avoidance patterns
Between-session tasks – agreed exercises to practise skills and gather information between appointments

Sessions typically last 50 to 60 minutes and are held weekly or fortnightly. A typical course of CBT is between 6 and 20 sessions, depending on the complexity of the problem, though some focused interventions (such as specific phobias) can be resolved in fewer sessions. Towards the end of therapy, the focus shifts to relapse prevention – consolidating what you have learned and developing plans to maintain your progress.

Everything discussed in your sessions is treated in strict confidence in line with professional ethical guidelines.

Research and evidence

CBT is the most extensively researched psychological therapy in existence, with hundreds of randomised controlled trials supporting its effectiveness. Key evidence highlights include:

NICE recommends CBT as the first-line psychological treatment for anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, PTSD and insomnia
Meta-analyses consistently show CBT to be effective for anxiety and depression, with response rates of 50–80% across different conditions
CBT for insomnia (CBT-I) outperforms sleeping medication in clinical trials and produces lasting improvements without the risk of dependency or side effects
CBT for OCD significantly reduces obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours and is the recommended treatment alongside medication for moderate to severe OCD
Skills learned in CBT continue to protect against relapse long after therapy ends, making it one of the most cost-effective mental health interventions available

For more information on CBT and its evidence base, please visit the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies at babcp.com.

Frequently asked questions

How is CBT different from counselling?

CBT is a more structured, problem-focused therapy than many forms of counselling. It uses specific models and techniques based on scientific research and is typically time-limited with clear goals. Counselling tends to be more exploratory and open-ended, focusing on processing feelings and life experiences. Both have value, and the right choice depends on your needs and preferences. Please contact us if you would like guidance on which approach might suit you best.

How many sessions will I need?

This depends on the condition and the individual. Simple phobias may resolve in 4–6 sessions; anxiety and depression typically require 8–20 sessions; complex or long-standing difficulties may need more. Your therapist will discuss an estimated number of sessions at the outset and will review progress with you regularly.

Do I need a GP referral?

No GP referral is required to access CBT at Wokingham Therapy Clinic. You can self-refer directly by contacting us to book an appointment. If you have a mental health diagnosis or are currently taking medication for a mental health condition, it can be helpful to inform your GP that you are accessing CBT, but this is not required.

Can CBT be used alongside medication?

Yes. CBT is safe and effective when used alongside antidepressants, anxiolytics or other prescribed medication. Research suggests that the combination of CBT and medication is often more effective than either alone for moderate to severe depression and anxiety.

CBT-based hypnotherapy with Rita Pai

Rita Pai, Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist Rita Pai is a Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist at the clinic who draws on CBT-based strategies, alongside hypnotherapy, mindfulness and meditation, to support meaningful change. She works with adults, young people and children to help manage stress, anxiety, low confidence, phobias and unwanted habits in a safe, structured and compassionate way.

Registered with the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR) and with a professional background in Dentistry, Rita offers a calm, modern and evidence-based approach. Her aim is to help you feel better and stay better by providing practical tools that support lasting change, building confidence, self-awareness and resilience that continue beyond the sessions themselves.

For more information, please visit www.ritapaishypnotherapy.com or contact Rita on 07459 364508 or via email at hello@ritapaishypnotherapy.com.

Therapist vacancy

We are currently looking for a qualified CBT therapist to join our team. If you would like to rent space and practice within the clinic, please email the clinic manager.