Post-natal depression (PND) also called baby blues is a type of depression suffered by a mother following childbirth, typically rising from the combination of hormonal changes, psychological adjustment to motherhood and fatigue. PND can be very destructive for your relationship with your partner and your child, this is why is it important for you to seek help.

Cbt works well for PND, cbt is a talking treatment which challenges negative ways of thinking and behaving, replacing them with more helpful thoughts and strategies. With the help of a trained Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Pretoria based such as Dr S. Pienaar, you will learn strategies for overcoming negative thoughts and managing you and your baby’s new world in a more contented way.

Cbt has great success in treating it, allowing mothers to get back to the business of loving their babies. Contact a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Pretoria based, Dr S Pienaar on 083 6316 499 between 8:30-9:00 or 18:00-18:30, alternatively please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If you are wondering if there is Phobia Treatment South Africa based then you have come to the right site and yes, there is a preferred treatment method which is called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy will help you expose your mind and body to that which you fear. 

By gradually exposing and training your mind, thoughts and emotions that the feared event is not as horrible as you think it is, you are working to desensitize yourself to the stimulus.

The second part of the cognitive behaviour approach involves retraining the thought process in your mind. Your fears will eventually diminish as your thinking patterns change and as your therapy starts working.

If you require Phobia Treatment South Africa based, please contact our Therapist, Dr S Pienaar to arrange an appointment by Calling 083 6316 499 between 8:30-9:00 or 18:00-18:30, alternatively please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Cognitive therapy is first and foremost a psychotherapeutic approach which attempts to influence human behaviours and dysfunctional emotions. The methodology behind cognitive therapy is to analyse negative emotions and identify inaccurate and dysfunctional behaviours. The method is both goal-oriented and well-organised.

The theory behind this method was formed as a result of merging the works of Aaron T. Beck and Albert Ellis. The two theories that were merged to create this method were behaviour theory and cognitive theory. It is therefore now known as Cognitive Behavioural Theory (CBT). Albert Ellis first originated rational therapy which was a main step in the development of CBT. Aaron T. Buck was inspired by Ellis’ work and this led him to develop cognitive therapy.

In the beginning both of these theories were compared and there was an attempt made to determine which one was the best approach. However they were merged instead into one to form CBT. The creation of this joint theory has led to the development of successful treatments for panic disorders. CBT is also very good for the treatment of issues including: personality complexes, anxiety, mood, and substance abuse. Other psychotic issues can also benefit from CBT and it has been used to reduce some criminal behaviour as well.

After analysing negative emotions and identifying inaccurate and dysfunctional behaviour, CBT seeks to replace these harmful influences with more realistic and positive ones. Some of the therapeutic systems which make up CBT are: cognitive therapy, rational emotive behaviour therapy and multi modal theory. Techniques included in these systems include keeping a record of negative feelings, thoughts, behaviour and beliefs and learning how to accurately identify them. These techniques are practiced by the patients themselves under the monitoring of a therapist. CBT can help stabilize mood and treat conditions like bipolar disorder.

If there is a phobia of social situations, the same theory and methods are used however they are modified slightly for use in a group setting.
Clients can also use software programs to practice CBT. These programs can serve as an alternative to a face-to-face meeting with a therapist. If a therapist is unavailable, this means that a patient can still get the guidance and the counselling that they need. Some people who suffer from depression and loss may feel too afraid or may hesitate in talking to a person about their problems. In these cases CBT software may be the best solution in these cases.

Some of the main conditions which are treated by CBT include insomnia, mental disorders, mood disorders and panic disorders. With the help of a therapist, a client may also do some behavioural experiments in order to see how and if this would help them improve their quality of life.

CBT is also used with children and adolescents. There has been some remarkable work done in this area by Mark Reinikie and his colleagues. The “Friends Program” that was started by Paula Barrette is also a part of the CBT approach. The World Health Organization has recognized that this program is the best for the treatment of anxiety in children.
CBT is very similar to the “Scientist Practitioner Model” where the clinical practice and research work is done from a scientific perspective. This method places an emphasis on measurement.

There are some non-CBT therapists who criticize its methodology. Some further information on CBT (including some of the criticisms) includes:

• The amount of research and published literature on CBT may give the impression that other, less documented forms of therapy are somehow inferior or sub-standard.

• People who undergo any form of therapy will, in theory, show some signs of improvement. Therefore, the number of people who are showing improvement may not be related to any extra level of effectiveness of CBT

• CBT is effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Studies do show that someone with one of these disorders may show much more improvement than someone with the same disorder who used a different method of therapy

• CBT provides a valuable level of relief from depression and other mood disorders

• Several analyses show that CBT is good at treating mental disorders. Recently , CBT has become well-known for its effectiveness in correctional settings. It can reduce criminal behaviour and CBT programs have been started in many different prisons and jails.

• Patients will show gradual improvement over the course of the therapy sessions.

It is this continual level of improvement that has caused it to become well known in comparison with other therapy methods. Some disorders may show up again during the course of therapy but this is decreased by consistent and regular therapeutic sessions
It is important to realize that the effects of cognitive behavioural therapy will not be felt overnight. It can take considerable time and effort from the patient and the therapist in order to replace psychotic or negative behaviours.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps patients view their situation from a different perspective by directly challenging negative thoughts and fears that the patient may have.

CBT teaches patients to control or get rid of them. CBT is a short term therapy which is directly focused on managing or eliminating specific problems and involves a mutual contribution from the therapist and the patient.

The Mayo Clinic identifies a number of areas where CBT can be used. They include:

Determine the problem – This can be mental or physical, it may be work or relationship stress, depression, anxiety, or anything else that is bothering the patient of the therapy.
Examine the thoughts, behaviours and emotions associated with these problems - Once the problems the patient wants to work on are identified, the patient and the therapist begin looking at how the patient is reacting to those problems.

Spot negative or inaccurate thoughts, behaviours and emotions - There are a number of ways people can perceive or deal with an issue that just makes things worse – including negative thoughts about themselves or an undue focus on the negative aspects of a situation or occurrence.

Work to change the patient's reaction to personal issues - The therapist and the patient work to replace these negative portions of the patient's reaction with more positive and constructive ones, including positive thoughts about the patient's ability to cope, and attempting to view a situation more objectively.

•Cognitive behavioral therapy – Healthline.com 9n.d) Health Line. Retrieved February 12, 2016, from http://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/cognitive-behavioral-therapy#1