Main Components Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy or CBT as it is widely known is a psychotherapeutic technique that is formulated to help people examine their thought patterns that ultimately lead them on a path of self-destruction. During this therapy, patients learn how they can challenge these thought patterns and change their behaviour accordingly.
Core Principles
The core principles of CBT include focusing on altering behavioural and thinking patterns. While it can also be used to help people who suffer from common conditions like anxiety and depression, it most often forms the bedrock of modern addiction treatment. Just to put it out there, it is widely believed that CBT has up to a 75% effectiveness rate.
Changing Thinking Patterns
Aaron Beck was the first professional to identify what he termed as ‘automatic negative thoughts’. Patients who are suffering from emotional issues, disorders and addiction often find themselves spiralled up in their own thinking patterns. During CBT, a patient will get to learn how to better cope with stressful experiences. The bottomline is to alter the negative thinking cycles patients find themselves in.
Changing Behavioral Patterns
Second phase of CBT includes changing a patient’s behavioral patterns. Once negativity is dealt with, psychotherapists and patients will work together to make positive behavioral changes. Since it involves coping with potential triggers, it is a complex process.
Setting New Goals
The final core principle is to set goals for the future. Goals vary individually and their success can be measured in different ways. To ensure new goals are realistic and not overly ambitious, goal-setting will be done in conjunction with a professional psychotherapist.
Measuring The Success Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
It is far easier to measure the success of Cognitive behavioral therapy than with other types. Therapist is responsible for measuring the success and also provides patients with methods in which they can measure their progress. To measure weekly progress by having the patient complete a number of exercises, Neuropsychological Educational Approach to Cognitive Remediation (NEAR) is used.
Learning new skills, progress towards long-term goals and other people noticing change are some ways in which patients are able to determine whether or not they are making progress. It is important to understand this fact that it is going to take months and years to initiate lasting change.
Consider CBT With Us
Anyone who is currently undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy needs to understand that progress is gradual. Consistency across an extended period of time is the key. If you wish to find out more about cognitive behavioral therapy, and whether it is the ideal type of therapy for you, call us at Mallardlakedetox.