What is CBT and IPT? A Simple Guide to Two Effective Therapies

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) are two of the most researched, effective therapies for mental health challenges. Both approaches have helped thousands of people manage conditions like anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and relationship difficulties. While they share some similarities, their focus and techniques differ, making them suitable for different situations and client needs.

Understanding CBT
CBT is based on the idea that thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are interconnected. Negative or unhelpful thoughts can create emotional distress and lead to maladaptive behaviours. CBT helps individuals identify these thoughts, challenge them, and replace them with more balanced, helpful thinking. Techniques include cognitive restructuring, behavioural experiments, exposure therapy, and relaxation strategies.

Example: Imagine someone who believes, “I always fail at everything.” This thought can create anxiety, avoidance, and sadness. Through CBT, they learn to test the evidence for this belief and gradually replace it with a more realistic view: “I sometimes make mistakes, but I also succeed in many things.”

Understanding IPT
IPT focuses on the role of relationships and life events in mental health. It helps people understand how conflicts, role changes, or loss impact mood and functioning. IPT is particularly effective for depression and grief, but it can also support other challenges where relationships play a key role.

Example: A person experiencing depression after a breakup may benefit from IPT by exploring the relationship patterns, improving communication skills, and learning how to strengthen supportive connections.

Key Differences
- CBT: Focuses on thoughts and behaviours. Structured, skill-based, often short-term. 
- IPT: Focuses on interpersonal relationships and life transitions. Also structured and time-limited, but emphasises emotional processing.

Combining Approaches
Sometimes, therapists integrate CBT and IPT techniques to meet the client’s unique needs. This flexibility allows for addressing both cognitive patterns and relationship issues simultaneously.

Final Thoughts:
Choosing the right therapy depends on your personal goals and the challenges you face. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or relationship difficulties, both CBT and IPT offer practical strategies and compassionate support. 

If you feel ready to explore therapy, you can reach out today to discuss how CBT or IPT could help you regain balance, confidence, and wellbeing.

Welcome to My Blog: Exploring CBT and IPT for Better Mental Health

Hello and welcome — I’m glad you’ve found your way here. My name is Martyn Bradshaw, and I run Bradshaw Therapy and Wellbeing Ltd, where I specialise in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT). I work with adults across the UK, providing compassionate, evidence-based support for a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties.

Therapy can often feel like a big step, and finding reliable information about what works can sometimes feel overwhelming. That’s why I’ve decided to create this blog — a space where you can explore how CBT and IPT work, what they can help with, and how these approaches might support you or someone you care about.

---
What to Expect from This Blog Series

Over the next 20 weeks, I’ll be publishing a new post every week, each focused on how CBT or IPT can be used to support common mental health concerns. Topics will include:

- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Depression and low self-esteem
- Grief, loss, and life transitions
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Social anxiety, phobias, and health anxiety
- Insomnia and workplace stress
- And much more…

Each post will break things down in a clear, accessible way — explaining how these therapies work in practice, sharing real-world examples, and offering insights you can take away.

---

Why CBT and IPT?

Both CBT and IPT are evidence-based therapies that have been shown to make a real difference in people’s lives. CBT focuses on the links between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, while IPT looks more closely at the role relationships and life events play in our wellbeing.

Together, they provide practical, structured ways of understanding ourselves better and moving forward when life feels stuck, overwhelming, or painful.

---

Join Me on This Journey

My hope is that this blog will not only inform but also inspire — giving you tools, insights, and reassurance that change is possible. Whether you’re curious about therapy, looking for support, or simply want to understand more about mental health, you’re in the right place.

If something you read resonates with you and you’d like to explore how therapy might help, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach out directly through my website to discuss your needs and see whether CBT or IPT could be the right fit.

---

✨ Stay tuned: the first blog post in the series will be published next week!