What is Re:think/Re:act?
Re:think/Re:act is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) service provided by Monkstown Village Initiatives (MVI). A pilot project was funded by the Newtownabbey Local Strategy Partnership in 2007. It was funded by the Northern Health Social Care Trust until 2010. It is hoped that Re:think/Re:act will become a permanent service for the people of Monkstown and Newtownabbey.
The CBT service is provided by two therapists. Alan Lorimer has a BSc in Applied Psychology, a Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Therapy and is an accredited member of the British Associ-ation of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychother-apy (BABCP). Rosie Donnelly is a qualified Cognitive Therapist and is a member of the British Association of Counselling and Pyscho-therapy (BACP). Both are therefore bound by the Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy, and subject to the Professional Conduct Procedure currently in force.
We understand that it can be difficult to come to therapy, so in this leaflet we try to answer some of the more commonly asked questions.
What happens during therapy?
In CBT you and your therapist work closely together. An ‘agenda’ is agreed at the beginning of each session i.e. what you both want to work on. The agenda might include a review of your experience in the previous session, your homework, one or two current problems, a review of what you’ve done in this session, and homework for the next week.
You and your therapist will work together to develop a plan (i.e. what you will both work on) for the time you will be together.
This might include how often you need to come; your goals (what you want to get out of therapy); skills development e.g. learning to deal with your anxiety or depression; needed changes in the way you think, behave, and communicate, and other factors.
What do I need to do?
It is important that you work hard with your therapist so that you can make good progress. You will be asked to bring a problem list of all the things that are worrying you to the first session. This will help you and your therapist to target the difficulties right from the outset.
You will keep your therapy notes and do simple homework each week.
Self-help ‘homework’
What you learn in therapy is often what you practice outside of therapy on your own. Research demonstrates that people who carry out ‘homework’ assignments get better faster and stay better longer. Homework is important.
Examples of your self-help ‘homework’ might include keeping track of how you feel, your thoughts and behaviours; scheduling activities; developing goals, challenging your negative thoughts; collecting information to help you make choices; changing the way you communi-cate and get along with others and other user-friendly ‘assignments’.
You should find these straightforward and rewarding.
What about confidentiality?
Our therapists follow a strict code of ethics. All notes are securely stored and any information discussed in session is treated as confidential. The only circumstances when client confidentiality may be breached are where there is risk to you e.g. suicide, or to another person e.g. abuse or assault, or in the case of serious criminal proceedings. Your therapist will discuss any necessary breach of confidentiality with you before proceeding.
What type of people tend
to benefit from CBT?
CBT has been found to be helpful for a wide range of problems including panic attacks, low mood, phobias, low self-esteem, anger management, stress, sleep difficulties etc. It is especially helpful for people who suffer from ‘recent onset’ anxiety and depression.
CBT often involves challenging unhelpful patterns of thinking and/or behaving. It is therefore important that you are motivated to work hard with your therapist and that you are willing to tolerate some anxiety initially in order to recover.
How will I know if
I’m getting better?
You and your therapist will identify your goals at the beginning of therapy – and you will both review these goals as you make progress.
You will also complete ‘user-friendly’ questionnaires from time to time to help evaluate your progress. Finally you will decide whether you feel less depressed, anxious or distressed.
Can I help myself?
Certainly! Your therapist can recommend self-help CBT books and other reading material. We believe that the more you know about yourself, the better off you will be. We hope that you can learn to become your own therapist.
Who can use this service?
This CBT service is open to all people no matter what their race, culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation or age.
Nevertheless MVIfeel that it is a matter of integrity for all potential clients to know that their Cognitive Behavioural Therapists hold to a Christian worldview.
This is an asset for MVI’sCBT service as potential clients can avail themselves of CBT or an Integrative Form of CBT, which includes a spiritual dimension. Monkstown Village Initia-tives respects the choice of the client.
Monkstown Village Initiatives is a charity and as such it relies on voluntary contributions. The CBT service provided through Re:think/Re:act does not make a charge. However it is anticipated that those benefitting from the service will, as they are able, make a donation towards its ongoing work.
Monkstown Village Initiatives
is a company limited by guarantee (NI063696)and is recognized as a charity by
HMRC (Ref. No.XR29636).
18 Monkstown Village Centre
Newtownabbey
BT37 0HS
T: 02890860090
M: 07717496686
E:
A
Cognitive
Behavioural
Therapy (CBT)
Service