Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive therapy: Changing thinking patterns
In a cognitive therapy view, a person’s thoughts determine his or her emotions, and therefore, his or her personality. Cognitive therapy consider dysfunctional attitudes, depressive assumptions, or ‘maladaptive thoughts’ to be the cause of human problems. Some therapists call these irrational beliefs. A client’s cognition, or thinking patterns, are identified in counselling. The goal of the treatment is to change how individuals perceive themselves, others, and the world.
Behavioral therapy: Changing behaviors
Behavioral therapy uses a technique that acknowledges that there may be behaviors that cannot be controlled through rational thought. Behaviorists believe that personality and behaviors are learned. This includes the responses we have to situations, which are learned from the experiences we have in our life. Through behavioral therapy, the client can acknowledge and change the behaviors in order to deal with different situations in life.
How cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you
Based upon a combination of basic behavioral and cognitive principles and research, cognitive-behavioral therapy has been demonstrated to be effective for the treatment of a variety of conditions, including mood, anxiety and depression. Because cognitive-behavioral therapy is “problem focused” and “action oriented”, the counsellor works with the client using different techniques and homework assignments to give new experiences to learn from. This way, new behaviors are learned and the client is able to deal with situations on a different manner.
Ready for a change? Contact Healing Solutions today and learn more about how Cognitive-behavioral Therapy can help you.
References:
Heffner, C.L. (2002) Personality Synopsis. Available at: http://allpsych.com/personalitysynopsis/cognitive_application.html
Prochaska, J.O. and Norcross, J.C. (2003). Systems of Psychotherapy:
A Transtheoretical Model (Fifth Edition). Pacific Grove, Brooks/Cole.