Start off with a CBT Activity- a Mindfulness meditation
Explaining CBT to a client- Cognitive Behavior Therapy is a form of talking therapy that can be
used to treat people with a wide range of mental health challenges. CBT is based on the idea
that how think(cognitive), how we feel(emotion), and how we act(behavior) all interact
together. Specifically, our thoughts determine our feelings and our behavior.
Quick History
 Aaron Beck developed CBT in the 1960’s
 He used CBT to address depression
 He observed that individuals with depression generally have a negative bias about
themselves and a negative interpretation of life events
The goal of CBT is to teach people that while they cannot control every aspect of the world
around them, they can take control of how they interpret and deal with things in their
environment.
We all interact with the world through our mental representation of it. If our mental
representations are inaccurate or our ways of reasoning are inadequate then our emotions and
behavior may become disordered.
How does CBT work?
The counselor and the client work together, in a collaborative structured, educational fashion,
to develop an understanding of the present problem – the symptoms the client is struggling
with right now-(right so it focuses on the “here and now”) and to develop a treatment strategy.
CBT places an emphasis on helping individuals learn to become their own therapists. The
counselor promotes corrective experiences that lead to learning new skills, and the client gains
insight into their problems and then must actively practice with “homework” changing
unhealthy thinking and behavior.
According to our textbook, the course of treatment is typically brief lasting for 50-60 minutes
per session and for no more than 15 sessions when counselors adhere to standard evidencebased protocols.
CBT is used in treating :
Anxiety, mood disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, addiction, and as we are currently
learning about in crisis class, PTSD.
Some of the techniques used in CBT and noted in our textbook are listed on the handout. For
today’s class, I would like to have you practice identifying different types of cognitive
distortions. (we read about them in the textbook). You might use this activity with a client by
asking them to consider their own” unhelpful thoughts” encouraging them to define and label
the cognitive distortions and then together explore alternative thoughts helping the client to
shift their unhealthy thinking pattern(s).
Activity-Cognitive Distortions- processing information in an inaccurate, unhealthy way.
10 Principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Adapted from Cognitive Therapy: Basics and Beyond by Judy Beck (1995).
1. CBT is based on an ever-evolving formulation of the patient and her problems in
cognitive terms.
2. CBT requires a good client-therapist relationship.
3. CBT emphasizes collaboration and active participation.
4. CBT is goal-oriented and problem-focused.
5. CBT initially emphasizes the present.
6. CBT is educative; it aims to teach the client to be his/her own therapist and
emphasizes relapse prevention.
7. CBT aims to be time-limited.
8. CBT sessions are structured.
9. CBT teaches patients to identify, evaluate, and respond to their dysfunctional
thoughts and beliefs.
10. CBT uses a variety of techniques to change thinking, mood, and behavior.
If we still have time…..Yalom pg 76 and the Meichenbaum video.