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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is a form of
psychotherapy that emphasizes the role that our thoughts play in causing our
emotions, and therefore our behaviors. Cognitive-behavioral therapists
teach that when our brains are healthy,
it is our thinking that causes us to feel and act the way we do. Therefore,
if we are experiencing unwanted feelings and behaviors, it is important to
identify the thinking that is causing the feelings and behaviors. To put it
simply, our thoughts cause our emotions.
Once we identify our self-defeating
thoughts, feelings and actions, we can then learn how to replace them with
new and more effective ones. There are several approaches to
cognitive-behavioral therapy, with one of the most recognized as being
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), developed by Albert Ellis in
1955. REBT is an action-oriented therapeutic approach that teaches
individuals to be responsible for their own emotions. It gives them the
power to change the unhealthy behaviors that interfere with their ability to
function and enjoy life.
“Nothing
is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
---Shakespeare
Cognitive-Behavioral
Therapy has the following characteristics:
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Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on
the fact that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors, not external
things, like people, situations, and events. The benefit of this fact
is that we can change the way we think to feel and act better even if the
situation has not changed.
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CBT tends to require fewer sessions than other
psychotherapy approaches because therapists teach clients the tools they
need to implement CBT into their lives
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CBT uses
homework assignments for clients to carry out in between sessions. The
homework allows clients to "try out" the techniques at home and then receive
feedback and guidance on their efforts during the sessions.
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Cognitive behavioral therapy is a mutual effort between
the therapist and the client. Cognitive-behavioral therapists
ascertain
what their clients' goals are and then help their clients achieve those
goals.
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Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches that
extreme emotions (depression, rage, anxiety, guilt, shame, etc.) are
unhealthy and unnecessary. Instead, CBT teaches people how to feel
healthy negative emotions (frustration, disappointment, sadness) without
going to the extreme.
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CBT teaches the benefits of feeling,
at worst, calm and rational when confronted
with undesirable situations.
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CBT is based on the scientific fact that most emotional and behavioral reactions are
learned. Therefore, the goal of therapy is to help clients unlearn their
unhealthy reactions and to learn a more rational or healthy way of
reacting.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches
clients to view their thoughts as hypotheses that can be
challenged and tested. If clients discover that their hypotheses are incorrect
(because of faulty logic), they can change their thinking to be in line
with reality. Clients are encouraged to ask such questions as, “How do I really know that those people are laughing at
me?" "Could they be laughing about something else?"
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There are over 20 very common mental
mistakes that people make that cause them to not have the facts correct.
(These mistakes are taught throughout the course of CBT sessions.)
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If you are ready to begin
online therapy, go
to the
Begin Therapy section of this site.
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copyright © 2003-2005 Erika Russina All
Rights Reserved
This site was last updated
07/14/05
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