COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY
WHAT IS COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY
CBT refers to a method of psychotherapy that aims to reduce distress by altering problematic behaviour and unhelpful thinking patterns. Hawton et al (2004) suggests that the client and therapist work together to identify and understand problems in terms of the relationship between our thoughts, feelings and behaviour. There is a reliance on both to develop a shared view of the individual’s problem. This then leads to the identification of goals and strategies designed to overcome the problem. Much of the treatment is in the here and now and there is an assumption that the main goal of therapy is to help the clients bring about desired changes in their lives. Formal therapy is structured and time-limited.
WHAT COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY CAN TREAT
According to Turnbull (2011) CBT is about helping the patient to change dysfunctional thinking, behaviour and emotional patterns in response to situations by developing more flexible ways to think and respond in the future. CBT helps patients learn how to identify problem situations and themes, emotional disturbances and unhelpful behaviours, and replace them with healthier responses (Turnbull, 2011).
COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY AND YOU
A CBT approach is based upon collaboration between the client and the therapist with emphasis on guided discovery which hopefully results in increased insight and the acquisition of alternative strategies. From the therapist’s point of view, the main interventions would include enabling the person to challenge his/her negative cognitions (thoughts) and to enhance his/her control over emotions. For the person to master such skills an acceptance of a personal sense of responsibility for change is required. This however, this may be problematic for some clients in that they may perceive the therapist as ‘the expert’ and therefore abdicate responsibility but in reality the client is also bringing their own expertise to the discussion.