Why city dwellers choose CBT therapy in London for anxiety and stress

1. Why  city  dwellers  choose  CBT  therapy  in  London  for  anxiety  and  stress     In  spite  of  the  fact  that  cities  are  the  first  choice  for  the  majority  of  UK  citizens  when  it  comes  to  where   to  live,  it  can’t  be  denied  that  the  city  is  not  necessarily  the  best  environment  to  avoid  stress  and   anxiety.  Although  large  urban  settings  offer  the  potential  for  a  higher  standard  of  living  and  better  work   opportunities,  these  often  come  at  the  cost  of  our  mental  health.     Along  with  increased  work  opportunities,  the  cost  of  living  is  much  higher,  putting  more  financial   pressure  on  the  individual.  There  are  also  more  people  competing  for  the  same  jobs.  Achieving  a  work-­‐ life  balance  can  become  increasingly  difficult,  as  corporate  organisations  have  unrealistic  expectations  of   employees,  and  override  working  hours  per  week  policies  by  getting  employees  to  sign  away  their  rights.         Put  simply,  London  life  can  be  hectic;  there  is  no  way  around  it.  And  hand  in  hand  with  a  frenetic,  goal   oriented  lifestyle  comes  the  kind  of  pressure  that  leads  to  an  increased  demand  for  therapeutic  support.   Psychologists  are  certainly  kept  busy  in  large  urban  spaces  like  London.       Dr  Vanessa  Ruspoli  |  Harley  Street  Psychology  |  www.dr-­‐ruspoli.com  |  (+44)  7747-­‐  777361    

2. What  is  CBT?   CBT  is  a  technique  frequently  used  by  London  psychologists  to  treat  all  manner  of  conditions  that  arise   from  the  pressures  associated  with  a  fast  paced  life.  In  this  article,  we  will  take  a  closer  look  at  some  of   the  reasons  why  CBT  works  to  reduce  the  level  of  stress  city  dwellers  face.   If  you  didn’t  already  know  what  CBT  means,  it  is  short  for  cognitive  behavioural  therapy.  It  has  become   an  increasingly  popular  treatment,  and  with  respected  research  supporting  its  positive  effects  in  clinical   trials,  CBT  has  become  one  of  the  core  psychotherapy  models.  Clients  usually  have  multiple  sessions  of   CBT  therapy,  depending  on  the  severity  of  the  problems  they  are  experiencing.     What  makes  CBT  so  efficient?   For  busy  people  with  full  London  schedule,  CBT  can  be  especially  appealing  because  it  is  focused  and   pragmatic.  It  takes  a  down  to  earth,  practical  approach,  that  is  very  immediate  and  action  based.  It  also   affords  a  sense  of  self  regulation,  where  clients  are  encouraged  to  manage  their  own  pace.  People  in   high  powered  jobs  and  positions  of  responsibility  particularly  benefit  from  the  knowledge  that  they  are   in  control  of  the  process  and  that  it  needn’t  overwhelm  them.   One  of  the  main  things  that  makes  cognitive  behavioural  therapy  so  effective,  is  that  it  challenges  our   interpretation  of  people,  events  and  things  we  encounter,  and  by  doing  so,  tackles  problems  in  a  very   practical  way  by  addressing  our  everyday  thought  processes.  This  makes  an  enormous  impact  on  how   we  perceive  and  react  to  outside  pressures,  stimuli  and  expectations.  This  then  has  beneficial  effect  on   our  emotional  responses  to  what  we  experience,  which  in  turn  influences  our  behaviours  and  actions.   CBT  works  to  restructure  unhelpful  thought  patterns,  transforming  those  thoughts  into  ones  that  are   much  more  likely  to  affect  ourselves,  and  those  around  us,  in  a  positive  way.     Social  anxiety  treatment   One  example  of  the  kind  of  stress  brought  about  by  London  living,  is  the  stress  people  face  due  to  social   interaction  and  reputation,  which  in  some  people  can  lead  to  social  anxiety.  It  is  more  likely  that  people   in  cities  will  be  highly  active  in  networking  and  other  social  events,  either  on  a  personal  or  professional   level,  and  the  social  pressure  can  be  intense.  Along  with  other  stress  related  conditions  and  issues,  such   as  generalised  anxiety,  depression  and  eating  disorders,  CBT  therapy  can  be  a  very  effective  social   anxiety  treatment  if  implemented  correctly.   City  dwellers  with  social  anxiety  are  known  to  seek  therapeutic  help  more  often  than  their  counterparts   in  smaller,  more  rural  locations,  as  they  are  generally  faced  with  more  social  situations.  It  is  the  only   anxiety  disorder  where  an  equal  number  of  men  and  women  seek  help.  This  is  usually  work  related,  as   men  are  expected  to  make  presentations  at  work  &  need  to  socialise  to  network.   Dr  Vanessa  Ruspoli  |  Harley  Street  Psychology  |  www.dr-­‐ruspoli.com  |  (+44)  7747-­‐  777361    

3. It  is  no  surprise  that  city  dwellers  have  are  likely  to  suffer  from  anxiety  and  stress  related  conditions,  as   the  part  of  the  brain  called  the  amygdala,  which  is  responsible  for  managing  stress,  becomes  more   stimulated  in  comparison  with  that  of  their  rural  counterparts.  The  simple  steps  psychologists  use  in  CBT   are  scientifically  based,  and  by  reframing  and  challenging  the  way  we  think  and  respond  and  by   gradually  becoming  exposed  and  acclimatised  to  challenging  situations  in  a  controlled  way,  the   overactive  amygdala  can  be  calmed,  and  the  overwhelming  consequences  of  stressful  city  living   overcome.         Dr  Vanessa  Ruspoli  is  a  chartered  counseling  psychologist  offering  CBT  therapy  in  London.  She  has   worked  with  Cognitive  behavioral  therapy  for  a  number  of  years  at  her  Harley  Street  psychology   practice  in  Central  London’s  prestigious,  historic  medical  district.     Dr  Vanessa  Ruspoli  |  Harley  Street  Psychology  |  www.dr-­‐ruspoli.com  |  (+44)  7747-­‐  777361