Cognitive Therapy (CT) By Aaron Beck

827 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Theories of self reflection in psychology

Laura Stoychev PSYC 5893 Theory of Choice Paper The counseling approach I most identify with is Cognitive Therapy (CT) by Aaron Beck. It concentrates on the part a person’s thought process has in dysfunction and intervention. I agree with Albert Ellis 's Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) and some aspects of the existential approach to counseling, but CT is my choice therapy. One of the primary beliefs in cognitive therapy is that a person 's perspective can influence emotional and behavioral reactions. I believe that if a person is able to reevaluate attitude and beliefs about a situation, the person can improve wellbeing. The person 's wellbeing can improve by altering the reactions he or she has to the situation and learning more …show more content…

However, CT recognizes that a person 's perception is influenced by past experiences, emotions linked to certain areas of those experiences, and core beliefs. The experiences people gain throughout their lives are processed and understood with meaning specific to their lives. This processing of and finding meaning in personal experience is essential to our existence as people. Although CT does focus on the present, the therapist must try to understand how the person sees the world and thinks. This means trying to understand the meaning they have individually assigned to their experiences and how those experiences influence their cognitive processing. That allows the therapist to teach the client tools to reframe his or her dysfunctional thoughts like catastrophizing, magnification or minimization, mindreading, overgeneralizing, and black-white …show more content…

The client is seen for where he or she is in the present and the past is only considered in order to improve the client 's future. I found myself following this model as I worked with clients. I knew their background from the intake information, but I focused on meeting them where they were at the present. I did however use the background information and past experiences they shared to help them find alternative, more productive ways to adapt to their environment. This is also a philosophy that I carry into everyday life. Each person has a unique perspective on the world around them that defines how they interact in that world. I believe there would be far less conflict and misunderstandings if people saw each other this

Show More
Related

  • Solution Focused Brief Therapy: Adlerian Therapy

    1170 Words  | 3 Pages

    These techniques include showing concern for clients through active listening and empathy, showing respect for and confidence in clients, focusing on client’s strong points and positive traits, resources, replacing discouraging thoughts with encouraging ones, and helping clients to develop a sense of humor about life. (Watts & Pietrzak,2000,p 443) Another method, as mentioned earlier is building a strong rapport with the client. Therapists use a variety of techniques to facilitate change in the client’s behavior. Therapists help clients to choose alternative behaviors to the behaviors that are maladaptive. The next method is getting the client to change how he or she views a situation. This is done inside and outside of counseling. Through this technique a client comes to realize their abilities and strengths. Last but not least, therapists help clients draw on their resources and strengths when faced with a situation that seems troublesome. (Watts & Pietrzak,2000,p

    Read More

  • Psychotherapy Therapy: Cognitive Behavior Therapy

    1623 Words  | 4 Pages

    While CBT has many advantages, it alone does not encompass all of the concepts I believe are necessary to tackle a client’s needs. Therefore, I draw upon concepts from various theories to assist clients in achieving their goals. Pulling from Reality therapy, a key concept I utilize is focusing on what the client is doing and how to get them to evaluate whether they’re present actions are working for them. CBT does use some form of this in the sense that one must examine and establish their cognitive misconceptions; however, I prefer to extract this concept from Reality therapy because CBT tends to do so by focusing on the past. I am a firm believer that while the past can shape who you are, it does little good to remain focused on it. Focusing on overt behavior, precision in specifying the goals of treatment, development of specific treatment plans, and objective evaluation of therapy outcomes all come from Behavior therapy (Corey, 2013, p. 474). Behavior therapy is highly structured much like that of CBT. By utilizing this aspect of Behavior therapy, I am better able to closely observe where a client is currently and where they are headed. Lastly, I pull from Person-Centered therapy as the final key concept of my counseling approach. PCT focuses on the fact that client’s have the potential to become aware of their problems and resolve them (Corey, 2013). This Person-Centered therapy concept has overlap with CBT as

    Read More

  • Five Factors Theorized to be Important in Countertransference

    611 Words  | 2 Pages

    Common to all definitions of this construct is the belief that countertransference must be regulated or managed. If unregulated, a therapist's blind spots may limit his/her therapeutic effectiveness by allowing clients to touch the therapist's own unresolved areas, resulting in conflictual and irrational reactions. With greater awareness of the motivating forces behind one's own thoughts, feelings and behaviors, the therapist is less likely to distort the therapeutic relationship.

    Read More

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

    114 Words  | 1 Pages

    Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the main type used to treat ADHD in psychotherapy treatment for children. Moreover, it integrates the following two components: behavioural interventions; and parent training. The main goal is improving the daily functioning of the child by improving their behaviour, family, and peer relationships. Interventions for parents are designed to help parents develop optimal strategies to cope with the difficult behaviour to or coexist with ADHD rather than addressing the core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. By doing so, answering the research question, could help us to modify their behaviour and raising their grades. Teachers can create an enhanced learning environment for all children

    Read More

  • Cognitive-Behavior Therapy: Annotated Bibliography

    1227 Words  | 3 Pages

    Goldfried, M.R., Burckell, L.A., & Eubanks-Carter, C. (2003). Therapist self-disclosure in cognitive-behavior therapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, Special Issue: In Session, 59(5), 555-568.

    Read More

  • Aaron Beck: The Father Of Cognitive Therapy

    1365 Words  | 3 Pages

    Aaron Beck According to Beck Institute, (Beck Institute) Aaron T. Beck M.D. is universally acknowledged as the father of cognitive therapy. He is also recognized as one of the world’s leading researchers in psychopathology. The American Psychologist has quoted him as “One of the five most influential psychotherapists of all time.”

    Read More

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

    1117 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), a variant of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), is a treatment specifically designed to address posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Shou et al. 2017). In this group format, CPT will be used to treat individuals who have experienced PTSD, resulting from police brutality. CPT is typically run in a group setting; this form of treatment can be utilized in individual treatment as well (Monson et al. 2013). CPT captures information utilizing; exercise techniques in order for individuals with PTSD to express their internal emotions regarding their traumatic life event that is stored within the brain. Through this technique, clients can associate intrusive or distressing thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks to

    Read More

  • The Application of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Within a Prison Setting

    1432 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy provides a collaborative relationship between the client and the therapist with the ultimate goal of identifying irrational beliefs and disputing those beliefs in an effort to change or adapt behavior (Corey, 2013). The developers of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy saw humans as capable of both rational and irrational thoughts and able to change the processes that contribute to irrational thinking (Corey, 2013). CBT is a more direct approach than some other therapy theories practiced today in that it challenges the client to identify aspects about their self through cognitions. This therapy, as discussed in Corey (2013) also provides an educational component such that therapist teach clients tools to effectively change the way they think to a healthier way. There are a multitude of techniques associated with CBT such as shame attacking exercises, changing ones language...

    Read More

  • Case Study: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

    756 Words  | 2 Pages

    Life dissatisfaction could even lead to suicidal thoughts or behaviors (Flett, 2007). Therefore the client should be treated in a valuing and respectful way so that he/she could see that their life and their problems are important and serious, but can be improved. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is characterized as a class of interventions that share a basic assumption that mental disorders and psychological distress are maintained by cognitive factors (Hofmann, Asnaani, Vonk, Sawyer & Fang, 2012). The pioneers of this treatment approach were Beck and Ellis and the core idea behind this approach is that maladaptive cognitions contribute to the maintenance of emotional distress and behavioral problems (Hofmann, Asnaani, Vonk, Sawyer & Fang, 2012). According to Hofmann, Asnaani, Vonk, Sawyer and Fang the modern CBT could be described as a family of interventions combining various cognitive, behavioural and emotion-focused techniques (as cited in Hofmann, Asnaani, Vonk, Sawyer & Fang, 2012). The ultimate goal of CBT is reducing the symptoms and improving the functioning resulting in a remission of the disorder or distress (Hofmann, Asnaani, Vonk, Sawyer & Fang,

    Read More

  • Benefits Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy In Mental Health

    1166 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the main therapeutic methods for mental health issues is cognitive behavioral therapy. I’m a huge fan of this because behavioral psychology was my major due to how fascinating it is. Cognitive behavioral therapy is basically “a type of psychotherapy in which negative patterns of thought about the self and the world are challenged in order to alter unwanted behavior patterns”

    Read More

  • My Essay

    1223 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy has its foundations in two distinctive therapeutic theories, Cognitive Therapy and Behavioural Therapy. Cognitive Therapy (CT) believes that thoughts, feelings and behaviour are connected. CT states and an individual with help; can identify an issue that is causing a behavioural or an emotional response and correcting that thinking to achieve a desired outcome. Behavioural Therapy believes that individual’s behaviour is due to conditioning during the early years of life and as such can be altered with conscious awareness. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy is a combination of both of these theories and is based on an individual’s own history of thought an...

    Read More

  • Influences of My Personal Counseling Philosophy

    761 Words  | 2 Pages

    In regards to the questions and answers, I feel as though my personal approach to counseling is based off of my own priorities I set forth in myself that follow more closely to the aspects of Reality Therapy, and Adlerian Therapy. Though Reality Therapy primarily focuses on the present, it still has some grounding in the past but not as much as Adlerian does. Even knowing this I still feel these two therapies are more closely related to my own belief system. I am in agreement with Reality Therapy, in that we are responsible for the choices we make. I trust that we can exercise great control over our lives, over how we can change to better ourselves, and to better our relationships with those around us. I feel that we all as a society are influenced by basic needs: belonging, survival, freedom, and power, and that these needs can be used as motivational tool when working with clients.

    Read More

  • Psychology: My Personal Philosophy Of Counseling Psychology

    931 Words  | 2 Pages

    With respect to practice, I consider both the present and the future to be the main foci. While we all may be affected by our pasts, it is not a certainty that our pasts must determine how define our present and/or future selves. Reference and reflection on the past may be useful in that it might provide background information, permit the client to process previous experiences in order to inform present or future goals, etc. It is also important consider whether or not reflection may help clients change the way they feel about the past, to build upon past experiences, or to recall and recognize past experiences in which they have demonstrated strength, and to consider their application in the present and/or

    Read More

  • The Characteristics Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

    1221 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cognitive behavioral theory should also be used to assist this client. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy states that an individual’s problems stem from dysfunctional cognitive processing. In this type of therapy, the therapist attempts to help the client correct a variety of irrational and self-blaming thoughts and tendencies that the client possesses. The therapist then helps the client see how irrational thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors affect the progression of their problems. This therapy focuses on achieving both short and long-term goals in order to help the client.

    Read More

  • Aaron Beck Cognitive Behavior Therapy

    915 Words  | 2 Pages

    Initially developed by Aaron Beck in the 1960s, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) also referred to as Cognitive Therapy (CT) focuses on understanding a client’s behaviors and feelings through focusing on their underlying cognitions and thoughts (Weinrach, 1988, p.159). Aaron Beck believed that our thoughts impact our feelings and in order to change negative feelings, we must identify and modify our dysfunctional thoughts (Weinrach,1988). A client’s symptoms or dysfunctional behaviors do not take place due to a situation or their feelings. Instead, Beck explains that between the situations or events and the emotional responses and behaviors, a conscious stream of thoughts take place (Craske, 2010). CBT explains human nature with an anti-deterministic

    Read More

More about Cognitive Therapy (CT) By Aaron Beck

Open Document