Written by Dr Elena Maritan, Consultant Psychiatrist. Last reviewed: 16 September 2026
Cognitive behavioural therapy is the most commonly recommended talking therapy in the UK, and the most commonly misunderstood. Here is what it actually is, what it is good at, and the practical detail that is usually missing.
What CBT is, without the jargon
CBT works on the connection between what you think, how you feel and what you do. The idea is simple: in certain conditions, the things you do to feel better in the short term are the very things keeping the problem going.
Someone with panic attacks avoids the tube, feels relief, and confirms to themselves that the tube is dangerous. Someone with social anxiety rehearses every sentence, comes across as stilted, and reads that as proof they are bad at conversation. Someone with obsessive compulsive difficulties checks the door, the anxiety drops, and the checking gets stronger.
CBT identifies those loops and breaks them, deliberately and with a plan. It is active. You will be asked to do things between sessions, and the between sessions work is where most of the change happens.
What it is genuinely good at
Panic disorder. Health anxiety. Social anxiety. Specific phobias. Obsessive compulsive disorder. Generalised anxiety. Insomnia, in a specific form called CBT for insomnia. Depression, particularly mild to moderate.
What it is less suited to
Longstanding difficulties rooted in early relationships often need a different or longer approach. Trauma may respond better to a trauma focused therapy such as EMDR. And if the underlying problem is an undiagnosed condition, therapy of any kind will underperform until that is identified, which is why an assessment first is sometimes the better use of your money.
A decent clinician will tell you when CBT is not the right tool. Be wary of anywhere that recommends the same thing to everybody.
How many sessions
For a focused problem such as panic or a specific phobia, CBT is typically a defined course rather than open ended work. Obsessive compulsive disorder and more entrenched difficulties usually take longer.
What matters is that you are told at the outset roughly how long, and that progress is reviewed as you go. Open ended CBT with no review is not really CBT.
What happens in a session
The first session is an assessment. What the problem is, when it started, what you have already tried, and what you want to be different.
After that, sessions follow a shape. You agree what to cover, review the between sessions work, do the work of the session, and agree what happens before next time.
It is collaborative and it is practical. You should leave most sessions with something to try.
What it costs
Please contact us for fees. They depend on the clinician and whether the work is for an adult or a child. We will tell you the cost before you book.
Two things worth knowing. Ask about the likely number of sessions as well as the rate, because a lower rate over two years costs more than a higher rate over twelve weeks. And if you have private medical insurance, most policies cover CBT but require a GP referral and pre authorisation before your first appointment.
How soon you can start
We aim to offer an initial appointment within one week, in South Hampstead or online. NHS waits for CBT in most of London are considerably longer than that, which is the main reason people pay.
If cost is the deciding factor, NHS Talking Therapies accepts self referral in England without going through your GP, and it is free. We would rather you got treatment than waited.
Book an appointment
South Hampstead, London NW3, or online. We aim to offer an initial appointment within one week.
We operate a callback system. Send us your details through the contact form and we will call you back.
The Coach House, 39 College Crescent, South Hampstead, London NW3 5LB
Frequently asked questions
What is CBT used for? Panic disorder, health anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, generalised anxiety, insomnia and mild to moderate depression.
How many CBT sessions do I need? For a focused problem such as panic or a phobia, CBT is usually a defined course rather than open ended work. Obsessive compulsive disorder and more entrenched difficulties take longer.
How soon can I start CBT? We aim to offer an initial appointment within one week. NHS Talking Therapies is free and accepts self referral in England, but waits are longer.