What are the treatment options for agoraphobia?
Cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) CBT helps you to change certain ways that you think, feel and behave. It is a useful treatment for various mental health problems, including phobias. • Cognitive therapy is based on the idea that certain ways of thinking can trigger, or ‘fuel’, certain mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and phobias. The therapist helps you to understand your current thought patterns. In particular, to identify any harmful, unhelpful, and ‘false’ ideas or attitudes which you have that can make you anxious. The aim is then to change your ways of thinking to avoid these ideas. Also, to help your thought patterns to be more realistic and helpful. • Behaviour therapy aims to change any behaviours which are harmful or not helpful. For example, with phobias your ‘behaviour’ or response to the feared object is harmful, and the therapist aims to help you to change this. Various techniques are used, depending on the condition and circumstances. For example, for a
