CBT is a structured, time limited, focused therapy. It is active in that the work is done together with the therapist and continued by you between sessions. It's based on the idea that our mood and behaviour are largely determined by the way we see the world at any given time and this is based on attitudes and assumptions developed in earlier life. CBT looks at the links between our thoughts, emotions and behaviours and finds effective ways of dealing with problems in the 'here and now.'