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| Intro to Cognitive Therapy |
Intro to Cognitive Therapy
By: John P. Rettger, M.A.
Cognitive therapy (CT) was developed largely by Aaron T. Beck and rests upon a theory of personality emphasizing the influence of cognitive, affective, motivational, and behavioral responses of the individual to reality (Beck & Weishaar in Corsini & Wedding, 2005). In the context of CT, reality is "constructed" by the individual according to their individual perception of events. Thus, proponents of CT would argue toward constructivism, or that there largely is not an absolute reality.
According to Beck (1995), cognitive therapy (CT) is a time-limited treatment approach operating on the assumption that the patient’s emotions and behaviors are influenced by his perception and interpretation of events. Cognitive therapists assume that a situation alone cannot determine how a person feels; it is how the person chooses to think about the situation.
The patient’s construction of reality is greatly influenced by automatic thoughts that do not involve the process of rational deliberation or reasoning. While automatic thoughts occur unconsciously, the patient can be taught to identify these thoughts by noticing changes in their affect. Once the patient is able to identify automatic thoughts, then the patient can objectively evaluate the thoughts. It is assumed that when erroneous thoughts are identified, then they can be corrected and thus it is expected that the patient will feel better. Automatic thoughts are assumed to be the result of the patient’s beliefs.
Cognitive Therapy assumes that beginning in childhood human beings develop core beliefs about themselves, other people, and their worlds (Beck, 1995). Core beliefs exist deep within the individual’s psychology and as such they are not immediately accessible or known to the person. For the patient, core beliefs are thought to be absolute truths about reality, thus they are “global, rigid, and overgeneralized” (Beck, 1995).
The CT therapist focuses on the beliefs that are dysfunctional and assumes that these beliefs can be unlearned and newer beliefs more consistent with reality can be developed and learned in therapy. It is assumed that core beliefs will eventually be accessed through CT techniques aimed at automatic thoughts. Thus working through automatic thoughts will eventually allow for the development of a new set of core beliefs. The above theory is integrated below utilizing the following developmental profile.
Read more:
Current Psychotherapies by Corsini & Wedding
Cognitive Therapy: Basics and Beyond by Judith Beck
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Created on 05/04/2008 12:03 PM by John
Updated on 02/01/2009 02:48 AM by John
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