Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

CBTBased on Pages 174-176 of the

Course Companion

Cognitive etiology of depression

• What is one of the cognitive etiologies of depression?

Cognitive etiology of depression

• What is one of the cognitive etiologies of depression?

• That depression is caused by distorted cognitions (e.g. self-defeating thoughts)

• How could cognitive psychologists treat distorted cognition?

• How could cognitive psychologists treat distorted cognition?

• By replacing negative cognitions with more realistic and positive ones

• (easier said than done)

Aaron Beck

• Have you heard that name before?

Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Restructuring

• Beck’s theory (1960s) still the core of many cognitive therapies today.

The principles of Beck’s approach

• Identify negative, self-critical thoughts that occur automatically

The principles of Beck’s approach

• Identify negative, self-critical thoughts that occur automatically

• Note the connection between negative thought and depression

The principles of Beck’s approach

• Identify negative, self-critical thoughts that occur automatically

• Note the connection between negative thought and depression

• Examine each negative thought and decide whether it can be supported

The principles of Beck’s approach

• Identify negative, self-critical thoughts that occur automatically

• Note the connection between negative thought and depression

• Examine each negative thought and decide whether it can be supported

• Replace distorted negative thoughts with realistic interpretations of each situation

schemas

• How does Schema Theory relate to Depression?

schemas

• How does Schema Theory relate to Depression?

• Negative self-schemas bias a person’s thinking.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

• A brief form of psychotherapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

• A brief form of psychotherapy• Focuses on current issues and symptoms

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

• A brief form of psychotherapy• Focuses on current issues and symptoms• 12-20 weekly sessions

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

• A brief form of psychotherapy• Focuses on current issues and symptoms• 12-20 weekly sessions• Daily practice exercises

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

• A brief form of psychotherapy• Focuses on current issues and symptoms• 12-20 weekly sessions• Daily practice exercises• Based on Beck’s cognitive therapy and

includes behaviour modification

2 aims of CBT

• There are two main aims of CBT:• The first is to identify and correct faulty

cognitions and unhealthy behaviours

Beck’s 6 patterns of faulty thinking

• Arbitrary reference – drawing wrong conclusions about oneself by making invalid connections

Beck’s 6 patterns of faulty thinking

• Selective abstraction – drawing conclusions by focusing on a single part of a whole (you got a low mark in an Algebra test, but in general you’re a great mathematician)

Beck’s 6 patterns of faulty thinking

• Overgeneralization – applying a single incident to all similar incidents (arguing with one friend does not mean that you have no friends)

Beck’s 6 patterns of faulty thinking

• Exaggeration – overestimating the significance of negative events

Beck’s 6 patterns of faulty thinking

• Personalization – assuming that others’ behaviour is done with the intention of hurting or humiliating you

Beck’s 6 patterns of faulty thinking

• Dichotomous thinking – an all-or-nothing approach to viewing the world

“I never do anything right”

• Underlying cognitive distortions is a cognitive schema, which processes incoming information so that it fits with the biased self-perception – e.g. positive events or successes may be filtered out to fit with the view of the self as a failure.

• Can you think of an example?

• The second aim of CBT is to encourage people to gradually increase any activities which may be rewarding

AIMS of CBT

• Help the client change faulty thinking patterns and underlying schemas

• Help the client to develop coping strategies and problem solving skills, and to engage in behavioural activation

Meta-awareness

• One important feature of CBT is to teach the client meta-awareness – the ability to think about their own thoughts (Teasdale 1997)