How it works

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based and structured form of psychotherapy that aims to alter the unhelpful thinking (cognitions) and behaviour that commonly occur during times of distress. As a form of treatment, CBT is widely recommended for problems such as low mood/depression, anxiety, worry and panic, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bulimia and more.

CBT can be delivered effectively on a ‘high intensity’ basis, where patients work one-to-one with an expert. National treatment guidelines also recommend additional, ‘low intensity’ ways of delivering the CBT model: these include:

• Books (bibliotherapy)
• Computerised delivery (cCBT)
• Group treatment

The development of the Five Areas_TM approach began in 1998 with the creation of the Five Areas_TM approach to communicating CBT life skills. This aims to teach key CBT skills in an accessible and practical way that people can engage with. It has since become a leader in the design and development of CBT delivery resources.

Today, the Five Areas_TM approach is one of the world’s most used ways of communicating the CBT model. Aiming to provide an accessible language and powerful, clearly communicated change tools, the approach is widely used in the UK, EU and North America.

The key has been retaining the benefits of the CBT approach- its focus on problems of relevance to the person, it’s structured step by step approach, all built on a supportive relationship with a practitioner.

The approach has created a range of practitioner support resources that can be used to treat a wide range of mental and physical health problems. Linked training, consultancy and support provides implementation solutions that can make a big difference.

Through our two product ranges, Five Areas_TM and Living Life to the Full (LLTTF®), we have created a wide range of CBT tools that use the Five AreasTM.

Five Areas_TM approach to support individuals in both high and low intensity settings.

The support and resources you will find on this site are not about diagnosis. They are not about medical treatment, nor about completing diagnostic questionnaires. No tablets, no diagnosis, no preaching.

Nor do we provide direct clinical support: if you are struggling with panic attacks or feeling suicidal, please contact your doctor or emergency services, or see our directory of further support.

Instead, we try to teach important life skills that aim to help empower and equip people to cope with negative thoughts or feelings. We help people learn to understand why they feel as they do, choose to do activities that improve wellbeing, identify blocks or activities that make them feel worse, boost confidence, understand and change sleep patterns, become more assertive, calm anxious worries and be more compassionate and supportive of themselves, asking for what they need, be calmer and less irritable.

Whatever your reason for wanting to access these life skills, either for yourself or to support others, we hope the content you’ll find on this site proves helpful. The skills taught cover general skills/information we can all use in our lives when we feel under pressure, stressed or distressed.