Counseling Theories Presentation An overview of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavior Therapy Its Brief History & Origins n Epicetus, “What disturbs…” 100 AD n The Cartesian Split ’s n “I Think….” n Reaction/Revolt to the Behaviorist Regime - Reductionism…1950’s n Chomsky & Behaviorism’s Achilles Heel n The return of mind to psychology

Some Noted Founders of the Cognitive Revolution n George Kelly - personal constructs, schemas, natural scientists of thought n Albert Ellis & Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy - REBT n Aaron Beck & Cognitive Therapy - CT n Donald Meichenbaum & Cognitive Behavior Modification - CBM

Two Quotations that give a “flavor” of Cognitivism n “The thing that upsets people is not what happens but what they think it means…”...Epictetus, 100 AD n UCasUR n “Its not so much what happens to you that changes you life, but how you react to what happens to you” n All of life is an interpretation, the self is a story.

CBT: Thinking about thinking

A Collage of Salient Features from Ellis & REBT n We are born rational (scientists) and make ourselves irrational. But how? n “crooked” vs. “straight” thinking n reindoctrinating irrationality with self statements n It’s all about one’s A, B, C, D, E, F’s n The scientific method of logical and rational thought is applied to irrational beliefs. n Therapist a teacher and interrogator

A Collage of Salient Features from Beck & CT n Like REBT, thoughts determine feelings and actions n Internal dialogues reinforce automatic thinking, faulty thinking and incorrect inferences - thus disorders arise. n Core schemata (belief) are examined, evidence is weighed = restructuring n Collaborative, socratic discovery model

A Collage of Salient Features from Meichenbaum & CBM n Like REBT & CT, maladaptive thoughts = distressing emotions n > awareness of selftalk/instructions and > awareness of thinking,feeling, acting n get coping skills by 1)self-observation, 2)changes to internal dialogue, 3)learn & implement new skills/changes…+++ n Scripted nature of behavior & constructivism or “restorying”

What is Cognitive Behavior Therapy (REBT, CT, CBM)? n Empircally-based via controlled studies. n Goal-oriented: set, monitor, act, assess. n Practical focus: first priority is solving concrete problems in the present. n Active approach: Therapist acts as a teacher/coach client does homework. n Collaborative effort: dialogic analysis and strategic planning. n Short-term method that’s effective!

Proven Applications of CBT n CBT widely applied to treatment of: depression, anxiety, martial problems, stress management, skill training, substance abuse, assertion training, eating disorders, panic attacks, social phobia n Probably the most widely applied therapeutic method at this time.

Strengths of CBT n focus on teaching self-therapy n limits dependency n homework tasks n open to other techniques, eclectic n works on kids n proactive/prevention n good for group work n wide applications n successful with depression & anxiety n > self-help n psychoeducational n alliance between t/c n structure satisfying for clients.

Limitations of CBT n Tends to play down emotional factors n Misses Ucs & underlying factors n Discounts usefulness of client’s past n REBT too confrontational for some, CT too structured for some (too positive) n Chance of power differential arising thru therapists ideology of “the rational” n Too reductive, all in the head and little focus on social situatedness/interaction

Let’s get involved with CBT

Involving you with CBT n An exercise in making “crooked” (irrational) thoughts/beliefs “straight (rational) again n How many reframes can you do in less than two minutes?

Cognitive Behavior Therapy “It’s All in your Head” n Thanks for listening, and remember...With CBT, Your thoughts become You.