Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Focuses on changing distorted, harmful, irrational & ineffective beliefs, attitudes & behavioural patterns that lead to dysfunctional behaviours. Helps the patient to identify distorted thoughts. Helps ptx develop skills & strategies to alter abnormal behaviours & develop healthier coping mechanisms. Aims to improve ptx control over their emotions & ability to deal with distress. Indications: OCD Trauma-related disorders Schizophrenia Substance use disorder Phobias Depressive disorders Anxiety disorders Eating disorders Duration: ~16 wks 2x weekly for 1st 4 wks 1x weekly for remaining 12 wks Techniques: -> combines cognitive & behavioural therapy Cognitive reconstructing Journaling (Psychotherapy) Systematic desensitization ptx encouraged to implement new skills e.g. discussing a faulty assumption with friends or set behavioural tasks e.g. ptx with an eating disorder asked to eat feared food e.g. ice cream These are also encouraged for outside of therapy negative or irrational thoughts are challenged or restated in logical & positive terms helps ptx realise that they have alot of negative & irrational thoughts that didn't match up the facts helps with how to rethink & re-evaluate how the world is seen realise that negative thoughts would team up with emotions & shut ptx down & depress them even more think more productive breaks tasks down Cognitive therapy focuses on understanding & changing thoughts Behavioural therapy focuses on understanding & changing behaviours related to situations & their response in the present for most ptx needs to be an exploration of past experiences & how these contribute to their present thoughts & behaviours for some ptx this is enough past experiences -> enduring themes of understanding one's self, others & the world -> core beliefs -> may be resistant to change? (unconscious) -> a person may not recognise them & understand where they are influence a ptx thoughts & how they choose to live form basis for coping mechanism way in which a person routinely deals with situations, esp. stressful situations in their life manifests as our typical patterns of behaviour influence our automatic thoughts Components: working with therapist in weekly structured sessions focused on specific problems that the ptx is having using a variety of techniques to change thinking & behaviour including keeping a record of ptx thoughts & behaviour -> problem solving for specific situations & guiding ptx to better understand themselves often involves ptx completing homework tasks in between sessions change in thoughts & behaviour change feelings Steps: Identify -ve thoughts become aware of them & reactions to negative situations involves paying attention to thoughts that accompany feelings of distress e.g. anxiety keep thought diary/journal to keep track of thoughts & emotions in specific situations identifying then helps ptx understand connections between thoughts, feelings & behaviours Challenge -ve thoughts with evidence support to contradictions therapist guides by causing ptx to ask themselves is their any evidence to support this thought? are there alternative explanations? what would someone else say about this situation? critical analysis/evaluation of thoughts -> begin to recognise when thinking is distorted -> to gain a more balanced perspective Generate alternative thoughts work on generating more balanced & realistic alternative thoughts to replace -ve thoughts more adaptive & constructive therapist -> encourages to brainstorm different interpretations of the situation -> via considering both +ve & -ve aspects learn to challenge automatic negative thinking patterns & develop more flexible ways of thinking gradually shift thinking to more constructive & optimistic outlook looking at things from different angles -> like taking a photo from different angles -> develop a more complete & balanced pic Develop coping strategies more effective ways of dealing with difficult thoughts & emotions e.g. relaxation techniques, problem solving skills, assertiveness training or social skills Therapist helps identify specific strategies tailored towards individuals needs & circumstances ↓ practiced in therapy sessions & be encouraged to apply them in daily life like an explorer with tools in bag Cognitive Therapy focuses on identifying & correcting faulty assumptions & negative thoughts aims to improve patient awareness of emotions & thoughts usually combined with behavioural -> CBT Indications: MDD Paranoid personality disorder Somatic personality disorder Anxiety Disorder OCD Eating disorders Duration: brief -> 5-10 sessions Techniques: Guided Questioning Journaling Cognitive Reconstructing -> replacing -ve thoughts with a healthy thought process