Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a type of talking therapy that focuses on how you think about situations and how they influence your behaviour. It is used to treat different mental health conditions, for example:

• Anxiety
• Alcohol misuse
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Panic attacks and panic disorders
• Stress
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Phobias
• Psychosis
• Sleep problems
• Problems with eating.¹

During CBT your therapist will work with you to identify challenging thoughts and behaviours. They will then set activities for you to complete each week to help overcome these issues. The activities will be unique to your situation, and you can work on them in your own time. Your therapist will be there to check on your progress and help with any hurdles along the way.¹

If you have a negative relationship with food, you can access NHS support for CBT. Depending on your condition and if you have received a formal diagnosis, you may be offered several sessions based on your individual needs. The number of sessions can vary depending on the severity of your condition, whether you have received a formal diagnosis and how well you respond to treatment.

Your therapy can either be face-to-face or online and may last between 30 minutes to 1 hour, although this can vary depending on your individual needs. Your first session will establish the reason why you are there and whether CBT is right for you. The sessions that follow will unpack how you are feeling and identify areas you’d like to work on with your therapist.²

During your CBT, you and your therapist might also work on:

• Identifying key psychological and emotional triggers for your eating behaviour
• Finding ways to introduce or reintroduce a healthy, well-rounded eating routine
• Challenging unhelpful or negative thoughts and beliefs about yourself and food
• Setting homework and tasks to help overcome your negative relationship with food.³

Enhanced CBT may be offered to you if you are diagnosed with a specific eating disorder, such as anorexia, bulimia or binge eating. If you are offered this type of therapy, you may have up to 40 sessions, starting with two a week for the first few weeks.⁴

Enhanced CBT can help you to:

• Understand nutrition and the risks of being malnourished
• Regulate your emotions
• Overcome issues with self-esteem and body image
• Monitor your progress at home
• Navigate social situations and manage stressors.⁵

If you feel like CBT or enhanced CBT isn’t working for you, you may be offered a different type of talking therapy, such as humanistic (focusing on individual growth and self-awareness) or creative therapy (using different creative avenues to express how you feel for example through painting, drama or dance).^1,6

You can speak to your GP and get them to refer you to NHS CBT services or you can refer yourself.

The waiting list for NHS therapy services can be long so you may want to access private treatment. You can find a therapist online. The price of private therapy will depend on which therapist you choose and the area you are in.

Your workplace may also offer private therapy as part of their employee wellbeing commitments. If you are unsure what your company has to offer, you can ask your HR representative. There may also be information in your welcome pack or company policies.