Author: Sana Rehman
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Definition and Overview
Psychotherapeutic
intervention plays a significant role in helping people to change their
disruptive, destructive or disturbing thoughts during a stressful situation
like COVID-19 pandemic. Psychotherapeutic interventions have many types that
influence behaviour and emotions; cognitive behaviour therapy is one of them.
CBT was originated by the Aron Beck, when he was working on thinking and emotional problems.
Cognitive behaviour therapy helps in modifying the automatic negative thoughts
that contribute to develop emotional difficulty, depression and anxiety. The
automatic negative thoughts are imperative to treat, otherwise it leaves the
detrimental effects on emotions and mood. With the help of Cognitive behaviour
therapy, these automatic or negative thoughts can be challenged, identified and
replaced with more rational and realistic thoughts.
Cognitive behaviour
therapy examples depict that it is not limited to identification of thought patterns, rather it is comprised of numerous strategies which help people to reduce the frequency of
thoughts. The most effective CBT techniques are relaxation, role-playing,
journaling and mental distraction.
Types of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive
behaviour therapy comprised of a range of approaches and techniques that
addresses behaviour, thoughts and emotion. These can range from self-help
material to structured psychotherapies. The approaches of CBT are mentioned
below
Dialectical Behavioral
Therapy. It
helps to change thinking patterns and behaviour using effective strategies such
as mindfulness and emotional regulation.
Cognitive
Therapy. Cognitive therapy definition depict that its a process of modifying the distorted thinking patterns, behaviour
and emotional responses. Cognitive therapy types such as replacing automatic negative thoughts with balanced thought, or maintaining through records are very effective.
Rational Emotive
Behavioral Therapy. It involves in the identification, management and modification
of irrational beliefs. Rational emotive behavioural therapy journal provides substantial data that support the effectiveness of REBT. The Rational Emotive behavioral therapy examples in the clinical history cannot be overlooked.
Multimodal Therapy. According to practices of multimodel theory,
the psychological problems must be treated using seven different traits such as behaviour, affect, cognition, sensation, biological consideration
and interpersonal factors.Each kind of cognitive
behaviour therapy deals with the underlying thoughts processes and intends to
mitigate the psychological distress.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Uses and Treatments
Cognitive behaviour
therapy can be used to treat multiple disorders as a short term treatment
approach. It helps people to focus on present beliefs and thoughts to reduce
psychological disturbances. The range of disorders that CBT treat includes
- Phobias
- Problems with stress
- Depression
- Eating disorder
- Panic attack
- Anxiety
- Anger issue
- Addiction
- Substance abuse disorder
- Sexual disorders
- PTSD
- Schizophrenia
- Dissociative Disorder
- Personality disorder
- Sleep disorder
- Personality disorders
- Somatization
- Bipolar Disorder
CBT is a highly
focused and goal-oriented, with the therapist active participation. The
therapist and client work on mutually established goals. The goals of each
session explained in detail and people are given homework to complete during
and after the sessions.
Cognitive behaviour therapy examples and impact
The underlying concept
of cognitive behaviour therapy is that thought plays a significant role in
developing any behaviour. For example, if a person all the time thinks that he
shall get contagion may indulge in overprotective behaviour. These recurrent
thoughts further lead to obsession and compulsive behaviour. The goal of CBT is
to guide people that they cannot have control over the world and miserable
conditions, but they can have control over the way of thinking. CBT has gained
tremendous popularity in recent time, in particular, the significance of
cognitive behaviour therapy during COVID-19 has increased to some extent among
mental health practitioners. The popularity of cognitive behaviour therapy has
increased due to several reasons which includes
- The insight about negative thoughts has helped several people to keep control over recurrent negative thoughts and spend a healthier life.
- Cognitive behaviour therapy found to be effective short-term psychotherapy.
- CBT helps people to deal with their emotional distress without medication.
- The empirical data has shown that CBT is one of the effective therapeutic technique that helps people to change their maladaptive behaviours.
- The implementation of CBT is widespread because it is a cheap therapy compared to other therapies.
The most important
advantage of cognitive behaviour therapy is that it helps the patients to
develop coping skills that can be functional in present as a well future
prospect.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy Techniques or Strategies
People frequently
experience such circumstances that reinforce certain beliefs and develop
negative thinking patterns. These thoughts and beliefs further develop
problematic or undesirable behaviours, which further deteriorates many life
areas such as relationships, career, academic and personal life. The
Identification of
negative thinking patterns. It is imperative to be
master in identifying negative thoughts, situation and feeling that develop
maladaptive or abnormal behaviours. The process of identification can be
challenging for those who are weak in introspection, but it can direct towards
self-discovery and insight that are an important part of treatment.
Practice New Skills. While practising CBT
treatment, a patient needs to practice and rehearse new skills. For example, a
drug addict should learn to avoid those social situations that may cause a
relapse.
Set Goals. Setting goals in life
is very important to live a productive life and to avoid negative thoughts. A
clinician or therapist can help the client to set realistic goals in life. The
goal-setting not merely help the client to spend a productive or healthy life,
but one should know the identification, priorities, long and short term goals.
All individuals are unique and they can have diverse goals in life so
identification of goals according to choices and needs attainable goals can be
made.
Problem Solving. The problem-solving
skill is also very effective in helping the client to identify and solve the
problems that emerge from stressful life situations. The problem solving
comprised of five steps i.e. identification of the problem, enlisting possible
solutions, evaluation of the pros and cons of each solution, selecting a
solution for implementation and implementation of the solution.
Self-monitoring. In cognitive behaviour
therapy, the self-monitoring is a very effective technique, as it helps the
clinician or therapist to gather the required information. For example, if a
person is having an eating disorder so self-monitoring technique would be very effective
to keep a record of eating habit and further it would assist in the habit
change process.
Progress gradually. Behaviour change is a
gradual process and the desired results can only be achieved with patience and
persistent work. For example, phobic patient for contagions can practice
recovery through verbalizing safety statements. By persistently working on
thought process, gradually the goals can be achieved.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Limitations or
Pitfalls
Cognitive behavior therapy exercises have some limitations or pitfalls, which are
listed below.
Change is hard to
make. The identification of
irrational thought is not enough to make a significant change in inpatient
life. Replacing the irrational thought with an alternative or balanced though
is more important for the recovery of the patients.
Cognitive Behavior
Therapy is Structured. Like the
psychoanalytical approach, cognitive behavioural therapy does not focus on
underlying thoughts buried in the unconscious. It is more appropriate for the
client who is more comfortable with structured therapy, in which the therapist
or clinicians takes an instructor role. Furthermore cognitive behavior therapy implement the principles of both cognitive therapy and behavioural therapy, therefore considered a most effective approach.
People must be willing
to change. The positive results
of Cognitive behaviour therapy can only be achieved when the patients show
their willingness to embrace the intervention. The self-analysis and homework’s
of CBT can produce better results if the patients want to make a change in
their thoughts and behaviour.
The need for Cognitive Behavior Therapy during COVID-19 Pandemic
According to Cognitive behaviouraal theory the need for CBT during crises such as COVID-19 outbreak has increased as people are dealing with depression and anxiety. The E-CBT approach is reported to be effective in managing anxiety, depression and related issues of the people.