Cognitive Therapy
Introduction
Cognitive Therapy, or CT, is
a popular form of psychotherapy used for treating an array of mental and even
medical health problems that incorporates problem solving, educating, and
building skills. Aaron T. Beck, a psychiatrist with a background in
psychoanalysis, first developed Cognitive Therapy as a treatment for depression
in the 1960s while working at the University of Pennsylvania. Beginning with
this man’s research, over 400 studies have confirmed that this form of
treatment is highly effective not only in treating depression, but many other
common mental disorders as well. The idea behind CT is that our thoughts affect
the moods we’re in, so the goal is to replace our negative thoughts with positive
ones as a means of overcoming these mental disorders.
Goals of Cognitive Therapy
The main goal of Cognitive
Therapy is to change the client’s way of thinking, thereby also changing the
client’s emotional responses and behaviors that tend to accompany these
thoughts. By recognizing a negative thought for what it is, we become aware of
the biases behind them. Once we identify these thoughts, we can consciously
change them to positive ones. This new
line of thinking can help patients see the world in an entirely different way
by fighting off the negative thoughts. Once this new learning technique becomes
a habit, it is more difficult for the patient to relapse back into their state
of depression due to the fact that they are now in control of their own
thoughts.
When is Cognitive Therapy Used?
Cognitive Therapy is used as
treatment for adolescent to adult mental health patients with problems such as
depression, general anxiety disorders, panic disorders, stress-related medical
disorders, anger, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and
even relationship problems. In fact, CT has proven to be just as effective as
antidepressants for treating mild to moderate depression. Studies have shown
that, partnered with antidepressants, Cognitive Therapy can help to treat
chronic or severe depression and even lessen the chance of relapse! Cognitive
Therapy can also be used to treat simpler problems such as procrastination.
Really, almost everyone can benefit from Cognitive Therapy one way or another.
On top of the mental
disorders Cognitive Therapy is used to treat, it can also help some medical
health patients as well. Some problems that have been successfully treated with
CT are hypertension, chronic pain, insomnia, substance abuse, and fibromyalgia.
How Cognitive Therapy Works
Generally speaking,
Cognitive Therapy is a short-term form of treatment, and most patients fall
between the 8-16 week range. However, the length of therapy is dependent on the
difficulty as well as the nature of the problems. Since the goal is ultimately
for the patient to become his or her own therapist, the relationship between
patient and therapist is similar to that of a teacher and student, in the sense
that the therapy itself is being taught at the same time the patient learns to
overcome his or her problem. By treating the patient this way, it allows him or
her to be independent so that he or she can solve any future problems
themselves.
To start, the patient can
expect to take notes of the negative beliefs, behaviors, and emotions they
happen to experience. The therapist works through these thoughts with the
patient to help identify the bias in such thinking. There are many different
categorizations of thoughts that point these out. For example, “all-or-nothing”
thinking occurs when someone uses absolute terms such as never, forever, and
always and therefore fails to see that there is possibly some middle ground in
the situation. “Emotional reasoning” thinking occurs when someone lets their
emotions control their thoughts rather than focusing in on just the facts.
Once the patient learns how
to identify these biases, they can consciously think positively instead which
will therefore affect their behaviors and emotional responses. The patient’s
thoughts will continue to be recorded as they progress. Eventually the
therapist will be able to “set them free” to take their future problems head-on
using their newfound thinking habits.
Criticisms of Cognitive Therapy
While Cognitive Therapy is
very popular and used as a standard form of therapy these days in several
countries, it is not immune to criticism. Some arguments against CT are that it
is too technique oriented, it ignores or devalues the feelings of the patient,
the therapists who utilize this treatment can easily become less empathetic if
they are too focused on the technique, and that it ignores our seemingly
“deeper” issues. However, if its symptom relief the patient is seeking (as
should be the case), these critiques matter very little.
References
A meta-analysis of the efficacy of cognitive therapy for depression. Dobson, Keith S.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol 57(3), Jun 1989, 414-419. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.57.3.414
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects.Ma, S. Helen; Teasdale, John D.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol 72(1), Feb 2004, 31-40. doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.72.1.31
Cognitive Therapy: Basic Principles and Applications.Leahy, Robert L.
Jason Aronson, Incorporated. 1996. 262 pages. ISBN 1461627869, 9781461627869
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