02 Nov Beyond CBT: When Thinking Differently Isn’t Enough
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a powerful tool. It helps us spot unhelpful patterns, manage anxiety and develop healthier ways of thinking. It’s practical, evidence based and can often be life changing.
But sometimes life calls for something beyond techniques and tools. There are times when reframing thoughts or challenging beliefs isn’t enough, when we’ve done all the right exercises but still feel stuck, restless or disconnected from ourselves.
It might show up in our job, when we realise that no amount of positive thinking makes Monday mornings feel any lighter.
Or in our relationships, where we notice that we do all the “right” things but still don’t feel quite like ourselves.
Or perhaps it’s not about any one area, it’s more of a quiet knowing that something’s out of sync, even if we can’t yet name what it is.
That’s not something to fix, it’s something to listen to.
Of course, periods of discontentment, frustration or general “blah” are normal. We all go through them. Feeling fed up doesn’t automatically mean something is deeply off, sometimes that’s just life being life.
But when those feelings linger, or when they hint at a bigger gap between who we are and the life we are living, that’s where thinking differently alone isn’t enough.
That’s where reflection and coaching can complement the work of CBT, helping us reconnect with our values and our sense of purpose.
It’s not about replacing one approach with another. It’s about bringing together both: the structure of CBT and the curiosity of coaching so we can not only manage our thoughts, but also shape a life that feels aligned and fulfilling.
This is where growth begins, when we stop trying to “fix our thoughts” and start asking the bigger questions:
✨ Who am I really?
✨ What do I actually want?
✨ What would it feel like to live in alignment with that, even if it scares me?
CBT can help us manage our mind.
But living fully, loving our lives and being fully ourselves, that often calls for something deeper.
Growth isn’t just about thinking differently. It’s about remembering who we are and allowing ourselves to live in a way that reflects it.