A clear, honest guide
What is CBT coaching?
At Gem Kate CBT, I offer CBT-informed coaching, not Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) psychotherapy. Although coaching uses many of the same evidence-based principles and practical tools, there are important differences between coaching and therapy.
What is CBT Coaching?
CBT coaching is suitable for personal development. It is about understanding and building knowledge of practical tools to help move you forward.
The tools and techniques in CBT coaching can help you challenge unhelpful thoughts, develop healthier coping strategies, set realistic goals and make manageable changes to your everyday life.
Together we may explore:
- Overthinking
- Managing life changes
- Developing problem-solving skills
- Understanding your thoughts, feelings and behaviours
- Building healthy habits and routines
- Procrastination and motivation
- Stress and overwhelm
- Negative or self-critical thinking
- Practising self-compassion
- Developing self-awareness
It can be difficult to make changes in life, but CBT focuses on realistic, manageable steps. I have used CBT's approaches and techniques myself for years and continue to do so. They have helped me manage difficult situations, feel more confident, break unhelpful habits, set achievable goals, build healthy routines, become more self-aware and make positive changes that are actually sustainable. I have never felt more in control of my own thoughts and responses since learning about CBT.
“We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.”
What CBT Coaching Is Not
CBT coaching is not a substitute for mental health therapy or medical treatment.
As a CBT coach, I do not diagnose mental health conditions, provide psychotherapy, or treat severe or complex mental health difficulties. If your needs are outside the scope of coaching, I will encourage you to seek support from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional or therapist and, where appropriate, signpost you to suitable services.
Is CBT Coaching Right for You?
CBT coaching may be suitable if you are looking for support with everyday emotional wellbeing, developing coping skills, creating positive change, or overcoming obstacles that are getting in the way of living the life you want.
If you are currently experiencing severe depression, psychosis, active suicidal thoughts, significant trauma symptoms requiring specialist treatment, or another serious mental health condition, coaching is unlikely to be the most appropriate service. In these situations, I recommend seeking support from your GP or a qualified mental health professional.
A Safe and Honest Approach
I believe it's important to be open about the support I provide. My aim is to offer compassionate, evidence-informed coaching within the boundaries of my training and competence.
If you're unsure whether CBT coaching is right for you, I'm happy to discuss your needs during a free initial consultation and help you decide whether my service is a good fit.
How does CBT coaching work?
CBT is based on the idea that the way we think affects the way we feel, and the way we feel affects what we do. When we're struggling, our minds get stuck in patterns that feel completely true, but are actually making everything harder.
In coaching, we bring those patterns into view and introduce practical tools you can use in your everyday life. Small, manageable steps that help you respond to life in a way that actually serves you.
What a session looks like
Notice
You learn to spot the thoughts that show up when you feel anxious, low, or stuck, often automatic ones you've never questioned.
Question
Together we look at whether those thoughts are accurate, helpful, or based on old habits rather than facts.
Shift
You practise new ways of thinking and responding, small experiments in daily life that build real change over time.
Coaching vs counselling
Coaching is generally more goal-oriented and forward-looking than traditional counselling. We won't spend weeks exploring childhood unless it's directly relevant to what's happening now. The focus is on giving you practical skills, building confidence, and creating momentum.