LaVelle Figueroa

January 22, 2009

Professor Daphne Washington Student

# 22537191

Cognitive Behavioral therapy and Reality Therapy

The basic foundation of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) bases its treatment on the

specific emotional or psychological disturbances that can affect our mental health. We must be

completely healthy because, any illness that affects our bodies also tends to affect our mental

health indirectly.

On the whole, the better ideas about the complexities of our lives and this world have

take into account a large number of things, sorting out which ones are actually relevant to the

aspect of life and reality that we are considering, and which are irrelevant.

CBT origins primarily uses the scientific method to help mange the patients emotional

dilemmas, however, this of therapeutic treatment does not have biblical foundation. Even though

religious convictions are universally accepted, and normally its foundation is the Lords wisdom

is the Bible.

The Centre for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (2006) says: “Any form of successful

counseling requires a healing atmosphere that generates hope and growth in clients. Cognitive

therapy is used most effectively in Christian counseling in the following ways Giving the patient

a rationale for treatment procedures, changing clients self-awareness by challenging shroud’s,

must's, and ought's, cognitive therapy helps clients to be freed from unrealistic expectations by

understanding and revising the unnecessary demands they place on themselves, Teaching meta-

cognition so patients can think about their thinking, to understand and control their thought

processes, and to replace inflexible and destructive thoughts with adaptive ones, The emphasis

on truth rather than happiness. Critical thinking skills encourage clients to confront the
truthfulness of their thoughts and beliefs in therapy, and to change client's underlying beliefs

about the world, to gain a new set of assumptions about themselves, others, and God. As long as

effective treatment is designed which is sensitive to religious convictions there is no conflict

between Cognitive Therapy and Christian counseling”.

Eventually, as a Christian counselor we must love Christ with all our heart, mind, and

soul. The objective of the treatment ‘IS’ God. In contrast to belief and schema modification,

which is the purpose of Cognitive-behavioral therapy, for the Christian the purpose of treatment

is to reveal a new source of being for those who are "In Christ". As the apostle Paul

demonstrates his concern for the Galatians relating the every day living in psychological

treatment and our spiritual inheritance in God “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were

slaves to those who by nature are not gods", (Gal.4. 8 TNIV).

The founding father of reality therapy was William Glasser has been well recognized by

the teaching profession and in the field of corrections. As Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:24-26: “The

Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient,

instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance to know the

truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil's trap, having been captured

by him to do his will” (HCSB). His is a hedonistic approach to directing individuals in seeking

the best possible life given the powers and circumstances that exist. In Christian Hedonism we

tend to seek happiness, but we must not seek it without hardship, Acts 20:35 teaches: I have

shown you all things, how that by so laboring ye ought to support the weak and to remember the

words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, `It is more blessed to give than to receive” (KJ21).
 The main goal of Christian faith is God for complete fulfillment. As the apostle Paul

extorted the first young Pasteur was Timothy to keep the faith as he was shown as a youngster by

his mother and grandmother. Paul said in 1Timothy 1:18-20 says: “Timothy, my child, I am

giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies, previously made about you, so that by

them you may strongly engage in battle, having faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected

these and have suffered the shipwreck of their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander are among them,

and I have delivered them to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme” (HCSB).

Reality Therapy’s main purpose is to be of assistance to people so they can satisfy their

basic necessities. Its treatment process is carried out when we are learning. It is the It is the

therapist’s role to actively pay attention to the decisions that are said their counselee. It is the

counselee, not the counselor, which establishes the objectives that they will fulfill. The main

feature of reality therapy is assessment. A counselee receives assessment on a daily basis. During

the therapy session the counselee develops a friendship with their therapist, as a result the

counselee learns how to deal their needs, acquire an objective, to assess, as well as create a plan

of action. The therapist coaches the counselee to self-evaluate their decision-making process.

Jenkins (2008) says: “The attitude of the therapist is another important part of the therapeutic

process. The therapist does not solicit questions that ask for excuses. The therapist should not be critical,

argumentative, or punitive of the client. And most of all, does not give up on the client”.

In my own opinion cognitive behavioral therapy and reality therapy both are scientific

assumptions on how we have to deal with our counselees problems. However they both foundations

might be completely unbiblical, because they aim take Gods scriptures out of context.

CBT and Reality Therapy both can be applied to biblical counseling, but we must not as Christian

Therapists loss from complete perspective the teaching of the Bible.

Cited works
 Jenkins, D. M. (Jan 8, 2008) Reality Therapy: A Brief Christian Review Retrieved Jan

January 26, 2009 from

http://www4.associatedcontent.com/article/514115/reality_therapy_a_brief_christian_review.

html?cat=72

Sturdy, J.C. G (Jun 21, 2007) Christian Cognitive Theory Retrieved January 26, 2009 from

http://www.cb1.com/~john/Religion/CCT.html

The Centre for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (2006) Christian CBT Counseling Retrieved

January 22, 2009 from http://www.centreforcbtcounselling.co.uk/christian.php

Magazine and Journals

Men of Integrity.net (2002) Reality Therapy Theme for this Week: Disciple Making

January/February 2002 5 1 Theme for this Week: Disciple Making Retrieved January

23, 2009 from

http://www.christianitytoday.com/moi/2002/001/february/1.1.html