Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the most rapid psychotherapies in terms of the realization of change in behavioral traits. It is based on the idea that one’s behavior is dependent on their thoughts and not external stimuli. While it is an approach whose results are gradually realized, it is instrumental to note that in some cases such as Alzheimer’s, this approach does not influence the change of behavior by improving one’s cognition. However, in terms of other mental conditions such as depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), there are different evidence-based outcomes that warrant the conclusion that this approach is highly effective in reducing symptoms and helping patients to lead a normal, healthy life again( Bieling et al., 2019). The biggest advantage of this approach is that throughout the sessions that one undergoes, their thoughts are changed and a person is trained to believe that the problems are not exacerbated by their inherent nature but the importance one attaches to them. This approach is also advantageous because there are no known related side effects; it is relatively inexpensive and can be a permanent solution to some mental health issues for which it is an intervention ( Bieling et al., 2019) .
One of the instances in my life that I have used Cognitive behavioral therapy is when my close friend suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after losing her mother through a tragic road accident. As a person who had initially analyzed this psychotherapy approach, seeing the distress my friend was experiencing after her mother’s demise prompted me to advise her to consider CBT intervention. Although we sought professional support from a satisfied therapist, being there to offer moral support prompted me to be part of the journey, especially helping my friend to reinforce positive thoughts when the therapist was not there or even during the lessons that we both attended for a while.
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Besides using the Cognitive model to influence my friend to embrace life regardless of her negative state of mind, one of the other theories that came in handy was Skinner’s behavioral therapy. To reinforce new behavior as recommended by the therapist, one of my approaches to helping my friend out of the situation was to reward her each time she consciously or unconsciously embraced spontaneous thoughts that would positively pull her out of her condition. During the times when she naturally embraced the fact that death is inevitable and tried to eliminate self-blame, I rewarded such an approach by taking her for a walk at a beach or take her to watch her favorite movie at the cinema. Another theory that came in handy is Albert Bandura’s Theory of Social Learning ( McCullough Chavis, 2011). While CBT therapy was instrumental in helping her be more real with her situation, joining a support group where individuals shared their Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and how they have learned to cope from harnessing strength from the environment tremendously helped. She was able to observe how other individuals coped, for example, by being active in sports and sometimes being socially integrated other than being isolated, which would increase stress. Although CBT helped her be more realistic, her ability to move out of her state of self-pity and self-blame was enabled by socially associating with others in the same situation and sometimes, those who have been able to positively deal with their pain.
In conclusion, CBT is instrumental in helping one be more realistic with their thoughts and, hence, changing their behavior in a way that allows them to deal with their emotional and mental upheavals. Being part of my friend's journey in helping her deal with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) made me realize not only how theories such as Social Learning and Skinner’s Behavioral Therapy could explain the healing process, but also the advantages related to CBT, for example its effective and rapid nature.
References
Bieling, P. J., McCabe, R. E., & Antony, M. M. (2009). Cognitive-behavioral therapy in groups . Guilford press.
McCullough Chavis, A. (2011). Social learning theory and behavioral therapy: Considering human behaviors within the social and cultural context of individuals and families. Social Work in Public Health , 26 (5), 471-481.
