According to Scott (2009) CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is a form of psychotherapy which is applied in conditions such as anxiety, depression, and mental disorders. Scotts (2009) indicates that CBT includes both behavioral and cognitive standards when solving problems that arise from depression and anxiety. Further, he explains that according to CBT rational thinking does not offer a solution to all problems. Rather, stimuli (both internal and external) can help an individual in his or her surrounding to solve any difficulties that come about. Consequently, many studies reveal the significance of cognitive behavioral therapy in treating some mental illnesses. The effectiveness of CBT relies on its concept, therapeutic process, client-therapist relationship, and procedures during counseling.
When compared to other theories of psychotherapy, CBT focuses on solution center to treatment and is concentrated with learning skills and solving challenges. The main aim of cognitive behavioral therapy is to help individuals to stay better. The founder of cognitive behavioral therapy is Dr. Aaron T. Beck. He developed the theory of CBT in the 1960s.
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The method is unique in that both the therapist and the client work together to solve the challenge. As such, the two individuals inspect the effect of thinking and behavior on emotions and feelings. For example, clients can show strong faith that everything is impossible in their lives, and they start isolating themselves. In such instances, the therapist starts focusing on behaviors such as poor social skills, withdrawal, and avoidance. Consequently, CBT remains to be efficient because of its two features of focusing on problem and action as primary concerns. Scott (2009) believes that the two features make cognitive behavioral therapy useful for instance; it is action-oriented and problem-focused.
Opposite to other psychoanalytical theories, in cognitive behavioral theory, the counselor must consider the unconscious implication of all behaviors which a client shows. Subsequently, the counselor must analyze the client and assist in getting the answer. On the same note, cognitive therapists apply the values of conscious thinking, and their weight on the conducts of an individual. Conversely, the behavioral therapists apply the principles of impact whereby fear and avoidance are the reactions which impact on the behavioral conception of an individual. As a result, cognitive behavioral therapy results from combining the two.
The use of CBT is in conditions such as tic, addiction, psychotic disorders, anxiety, personality, eating, mood swings, and dependence. The procedures applied when using cognitive behavioral therapy to treat a client are better compared to other psychodynamics treatments.
Phases of CBT
There are different and current types of cognitive behavioral theory for example acceptance and commitment theory, relation training, cognitive processing therapy, cognitive therapy, exposure therapy, and dialectical behavior theory. Consequently, some counselors apply one type of CBT as others apply more than one. As such, cognitive behavioral therapy has six stages which allow the controlling of anxiety. The first stage is an assessment of psychological capabilities of a client. Consequently, the psychological evaluation shows the intensity, duration, and time of the client’s condition. Also, it indicates the possible influences of the relations that the client has with his or her family members, friends, colleagues, and the therapist.
Subsequently, reconceptualization is the second stage of the cognitive behavioral psychology. It stands for analysis and review of the psychological health of the client. As Scott (2009) believes, reconceptualization is an advanced form of psychological examination that provides more data concerning the client compared to the first phase. Also, it involves asking the patient questions, playing games which are psychological, examining the views of the client on the matter in question, and engaging a client in outside activities. The outcomes of this stage are essential in shaping the method of treatment to be used on the condition of the patient.
The third phase is referred to as skill acquisition and deals with the conveyance of the skills needed by the client to recover and do away with anxiety that he or she experiences. In this case, the therapist talks to the patient about other more serious conditions of anxiety which surpasses the client’s level of anxiety. At the same time, the therapist convinces the client to stop anxiety as other people with more serious cases did to stop their anxiety. Some activities which the client is advised to participate in are outdoor activities alongside exercises. These activities free the mind during movements of the body muscles and excretion when sweating. Besides, the therapist teaches the clients on how to social with the people he or she stays and interacts with in his or her daily life, and this helps in ending the in the feeling of isolation.
The fourth stage skills application and consolidation training, where the therapist monitors to know whether the client adapts to the skills taught in the other previous phases. It is possible through constant communication with the client to gauge the progress in the application of the skills taught in the counseling sessions. The fifth stage is maintenance and generalization which is not that comprehensive in comparison to the first four stages. According to Scott (2009), the stage involves fewer activities, for example, making sure that client maintains his or her usual actions, and upholds the skills acquired from the counseling sessions.
In my opinion, the approach of problem-focused and action-oriented is the best to apply when dealing with cases of anxiety and depression. In so doing, one can apply rationalization and solve his or her challenges. In the approach, the therapist analyzes the client through many methods to come out with the best psychological treatment. Further, the approach considers the fact that a person’s thinking affects his or her feelings and conducts. Also, it explores the components of avoidance, escape, and other unwanted actions of the client. In the approach, realistic thinking refers to when a client has continuous stress caused by imaginations, and the therapist strives to ensure his or her clients comprehend the variations between reality and imaginations. On the same note, self-instruction training according to the approach refers to when the client develops skills which show that he or she is coping up with the condition. The last issue on the approach is problem-solving where the client and the therapist agree on which ways to assess and address to defective cognitions. As such, the two parties engage in a healthy discussion and come up with important reaction behaviors to counteract the effects of depression and anxiety.
Conclusions
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the best to use in counseling patients who suffer from anxiety and depression. It is because the CBT entails a comprehensive structure for problem-solving and finding solutions. Patients who suffer from mental illness get well when the therapist ensures continuous communication and counseling services to them. In the approach of problem-solving and solution-focused, the therapist determines, through the help of the patient, how best to deal with the numerous conditions involving mental disorders. The theory of Cognitive-behavioral therapy allows for the universal views of the therapists and the clients because they work together. In my opinion, CBT is an efficient approach in any complication which involve the brain and seem to cause distress amongst other complications in the mind.
Reference
Scott, M. (2009). Simply effective cognitive behaviour therapy . London: Routledge.
