Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - what is it, and how does it work?

Question

I'm seeing a Clinical Psychologist next month, and I've heard they tend to use a Cognitive approach, or CBT. I would be very grateful if anyone could tell me more about it, without confusing me completely!?

Thank you.

Answer 1

I have put a link in for Mind's information on CBT.
The page explains all about cognitive behaviour therapy in very easy understanding language.
I found it helpful when I was about to go for CBT.
I hope it helps you.

Answer 2

Quite simply, according to CBT, mental illness and other problems are due to maladaptive behaviors and thinking. The behavioral part follows classical and operant conditioning research (think of Pavlov and his dogs and Skinner and his rats. . or was it mice?). Have you ever felt anxious, but only when you were in a certain place, with a certain person, or while doing something particular? CBT (or the BT part) asserts that you may have been conditioned to respond anxiously in these situations. For example, in high school, you had to get up in front of the class and deliver a speech. As you stepped to the front of the class, a bully screams out "Moron!" and you get so anxious that you throw up in front of everyone. After that, every time you have to speak in front of anyone, you feel anxious and nauseous. They use techniques, such as desensitization, to recondition your response to these situations.
The cognitive piece was largely led by Aaron Beck. He asserted that each of the various mental disorders was characterized by a particular cognitive pattern, or way of thinking. People usually have one of two (or both) core beliefs: feeling helpless or feeling unloved, which can color the way they perceive and think. When a core belief is activated, you can easily process information that supports it, but often ignore or distort information that is contrary to it, using cognitive distortions.
For example, let's say you failed a test, these are some of the cognitive distortions you may use (or what you may tell yourself):
Overgeneralization: You have been on honor roll your entire life and suddenly, you fail an algebra test. You automatically assume that you will fail everything.
Disqualifying the positive: You failed your algebra test. You insist that you are stupid, but your friends remind you that you have always earned honor roll. You ignore this and assert that your honor roll was due to other factors, like it was an easy class or the teacher really liked you (anything other than your own success).
Mind reading: You failed your algebra test and automatically assume that your teacher thinks you’re stupid and doesn't like you. Her behavior doesn't seem to support your belief and you've never asked her, but you know this is true.
Catastrophizing: You always got Honor Roll, but you failed your algebra test. You may rant to your friends, "I failed my test. I'll never get into college. No one will ever date a stupid girl. I'll never get a good job or a husband. I'll never have kids and I'll die alone."
Personalization: In this situation, your friend failed the algebra test, but you automatically feel that it is your fault, because you should have tutored her.
The purpose of the cognitive piece of CBT is to recognize these patterns of thinking, identify the cause, and challenge them.
It actually works pretty well.

This is a really simplistic explanation, but hopefully, it was helpful.

Answer 3

It has to do with our thoughts. Our thoughts are what generate our feelings, and if we can control our thoughts, we can control unwanted emotions. Also, it involves behavior. We can train ourselves to DO certain things without waiting for a feeling, and thus also control our thoughts and emotions that way.

I have had different types of therapy, and I believe cognitive is very good.

Let us know how it goes!

Love, Jack.

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Answer 4

Most simply put -- what we THINK (cognitive) influences how we ACT (behavioral). Therefore, they will work at identifying what thoughts you have or "self talk" that works against your goals, change it and expect changes in your behavior.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Sorry for laughing and dismissing this as a joke... marriage to a social worker across 23 years proved what a joke it all is to me!

He had AS... and cares for children and families and yet dumped two wives and eight kids in his wake.

His boss, carried a book on 'how to be a father' round under his arm as he walked about in red jeans and red sandals, he eventually got dismissed for gross incompetence.

The bosses wife would phone me in hysterics whenever her children did ANYTHING normal... "Why... oh why has she hidden a bowl of jelly under her bed?" As if the end of the world had come. Distressed because the jelly had gone mouldy and, couldn't understand when I laughed and called it normal... what did I know... a mum of six?

Laughing fit to bust!

Don't listen to any of it... listen to the kids... they hate jelly, they don't need perfect parents... they just need us... in real time;-)