Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in Dublin
with Dr Joanne Cooper

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, commonly referred to as CBT, is a therapy based on the important relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. How we think and how we behave has a direct effect on how we feel. For example, when we feel low, we tend to think negatively. When we feel worried or stressed, we are prone to thinking anxiously. With or without realising it, we may also be engaging in unhelpful behaviours that intensify how we feel.

Using a CBT approach, you and your psychologist work together on identifying thoughts or behaviours that might be unhelpful. Although it is helpful to discover the origins of any difficulties, it is equally important to learn how to tackle these difficulties going forward, or to make important life changes. You will also be given the opportunity to learn new skills. From the first session, you will learn how to become your own future "therapist".

Research has shown Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to be the most widely validated and effective form of psychological therapy available today.

CBT and Core Beliefs

As we go through life, we try to understand and make sense of the world around us. It's part of what makes us human. We filter incoming information, generate opinions and form beliefs about how things work. Over time, these expectations become our "Core Beliefs".

In a way, it is as if each of us is wearing our own particular set of "glasses" through which we see the world. Although this is true for all of us, most people don't actually realise they're wearing "glasses". But our "glasses" or Core Beliefs result in how we view ourselves and the world around us, what we expect, and consequently how we feel, think and interact with our environment. Core Beliefs are assumptions about ourselves, the world or about other people. They are usually formed during childhood but unless challenged, can remain with us for life.

For example, somebody who lost a parent or significant person during childhood could form the belief "People I Love Leave Me" or "I Am Vulnerable". Someone who was bullied or ridiculed in childhood could grow up believing "Others Will Hurt Me" or "I Am Ugly". Other examples of Core Beliefs are "I Am Not Worthy", "I am Stupid", "I am Responsible", "The World is a Cruel Place", "Others are Judgmental"... The possibilities are endless but are always specific to the individual and his/her own particular past experiences.

Uncovering our Core Beliefs is challenging but a very rewarding part of self-development. Examining the validity of our Core Beliefs allows us to lift our "glasses" and to live life unhampered by negative assumptions and expectations we never knew we had. In this way, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy or CBT can benefit just about anybody.

It would be a pity to live life interacting with others on the basis of how we have been interacted with in the past, making parenting decisions on the basis of how we ourselves were parented, or creating negative expectations of events on the basis of past experiences... all without even realising.

Although Core Belief work is usually part of the CBT counselling process, it can also be offered as a shorter, stand-alone piece for life coaching or personal development work.

Dr. Joanne Cooper - Ph.D., PGradDip(CBT), Reg.Psychol.Ps.S.I.

Based in Dublin 6, Joanne is a Registered Psychologist specialising in Counselling and CBT. She has worked extensively with both adults and teens in healthcare, community and educational settings.

Rewind Counselling Information Video

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Rewind Counselling / Dr Joanne Cooper - Contact Details