Cognitive Behavior Therapy

COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR
THERAPY
A combination of cognitive and behavioral therapies, this
approach helps people change negative thought patterns,
beliefs, and behaviors so they can manage symptoms and
enjoy more productive, less stressful lives. Cognitive
behavioral therapy (CBT) was developed by Aaron T.
Beck, Albert Ellis, Maxie Maultsby, Michael Mahoney,
Donald Meichenbaum, David Burns, Michael Mahoney,
Marsha Linehan, Arthur Freeman, and others.
 CBT is commonly used to treat a wide range of
disorders including phobias, addictions,
depression, and anxiety. Cognitive behavior
therapy is generally short-term and focused on
helping clients deal with a very specific problem.
Most cognitive behavioral therapies have the following
characteristics:
• CBT is based on the Cognitive Model of Emotional Response
• CBT is Briefer and Time-Limited
• A sound therapeutic relationship is necessary for effective therapy, but not
the focus
• CBT is a collaborative effort between the therapist and the client
• CBT is based on aspects of stoic philosophy
• Cognitivebehavioral therapy does not tell people how they should feel.
• CBT uses the Socratic Method
• CBT is structured and directive
• CBT is based on an educational model
• CBT theory and techniques rely on the Inductive Method
• Homework is a central feature of CBT
Basic Philosophy
• Individuals tend to incorporate faulty thinking, which leads to

emotional and behavioral disturbances. Cognitions are the major
determinants of how we feel and act. Therapy is primarily
oriented toward cognition and behavior, and it stresses the role of
thinking, deciding, questioning, doing, and redeciding. This is a
psychoeducational model, which emphasizes therapy as a
learning process, including acquiring and practicing new skills,
learning new ways of thinking, and acquiring more effective
ways of coping with problems.
Key Concepts
• Although psychological problems may be rooted in childhood,

they are perpetuated through reindoctrination in the now. A
person’s belief system is the primary cause of disorders. Internal
dialogue plays a central role in one’s behavior. Clients focus on
examining faulty assumptions and misconceptions and on
replacing these with effective beliefs.
Goals of Therapy
• To challenge clients to confront faulty beliefs with contradictory

evidence that they gather and evaluate. Helping clients seek out
their dogmatic beliefs and vigorously minimizing them. To
become aware of automatic thoughts and to change them.
Therapeutic Relationship
• The therapist functions as a teacher and the client as a student.

• The therapist is highly directive and teaches clients an ABC
model of changing their cognitions.
• The focus is on a collaborative relationship. Using a Socratic
dialogue, the therapist assists clients in identifying dysfunctional
beliefs and discovering alternative rules for living.
• The therapist promotes corrective experience that lead to
learning new skills.
• Clients gain insight into their problems and then must actively
practice changing self-defeating thinking and acting.
Techniques of Therapy
 Therapists use a variety of cognitive, emotive, and behavioral

techniques; diverse methods are tailored to suit individual clients.
 An active, directive, time-limited, presentcentered, structured
therapy.
 Some techniques include engaging in Socratic dialogue, debating
irrational beliefs, carrying out homework assignments, gathering
data on assumptions one has made, keeping a record of activities,
forming alternative interpretations, learning new coping skills,
changing one’s language and thinking patterns, role playing,
imagery, and confronting faulty beliefs.
Applications
 Has been widely applied to the treatment of depression, anxiety,

marital problems, stress management, skill training, substance
abuse, assertion training, eating disorders, panic attacks,
performance anxiety, and social phobia.
 The approach is especially useful for assisting people in
modifying their cognitions. Many self-help approaches utilize its
principles. Can be applied to a wide range of client populations
with a variety of specific problems.
Contributions
 Major contributions include emphasis on a comprehensive and
eclectic therapeutic practice; numerous cognitive, emotive, and
behavioral techniques; openness to incorporating techniques
from other approaches; and a methodology for challenging and
changing faulty thinking. Most forms can be integrated into other
mainstream therapies.
Limitations
 Tends to play down emotions, does not focus on exploring the
unconscious or underlying conflicts, and sometimes does not
give enough weight to client’s past.

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COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR

• Individuals tend to incorporate faulty thinking, which leads to

• Although psychological problems may be rooted in childhood,

• To challenge clients to confront faulty beliefs with contradictory

• The therapist functions as a teacher and the client as a student.

 Therapists use a variety of cognitive, emotive, and behavioral

 Has been widely applied to the treatment of depression, anxiety,

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