COGNITIVE & BEHAVIORAL

THERAPY
(CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY)

Nowella Kryzel O. Pelayo

BS Psychology 4A1-3
Dr. Eduardo M. Juangco
Professor, Clinical Psychology
Becks Cognitive Therapy

Aaron Beck is well known as being a pioneer in the development of modern cognitive-
behavioral treatments. These treatments have been applied to a variety of clinical problems.
Becks cognitive therapy entails the use of both cognitive and behavioral techniques to modify
abnormal thinking patterns that characterize the problem or disorder. The main focus of this
cognitive therapy is on the connection between thinking patterns, emotions and behavior. It
usually lasts for up to 14-16 sessions. In this kind of therapy beck is using more realistic
approach to the clients. Like for example in a depress individual, they are usually have their
pessimistic side and they are always thinking negatively. In this therapy they are practicing
different techniques to reciprocate whatever the client is thinking and feeling. They have these
scheduled activities to be followed accordingly. The purpose of these activities is to increase the
rates of positivity by having an increase in pleasurable activities. It also has cognitive rehearsal
in which the patient can imagine successive steps that leads to the completion of an important
task. By this, the patient can now feel fulfillment through them and can change their thinking
into more positive one. In this therapy, it also has assertiveness training and role-playing. It can
also challenge the validity of reality or accuracy of their thoughts that is occurring before or
during dysphoric episodes. It also helps the patients to search for alternative solutions to their
problems instead of quitting. It is proven that cognitive therapy is one of the most effective
techniques for treating depression since it is focusing in the thinking patterns and behavior of the
patients.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy is developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan. This is considered as a

new cognitive-behavioral treatment for borderline personality disorder and other related
conditions involving emotional dysregulation and impulsivity. Linehan believed that humans are
born with vulnerable temperamental styles in interaction with invalidating environments.
These can lead to emotional dysregulation and self-harming behaviors. Dialectical behavior
therapy involves skills training in problem-solving techniques, emotional regulation, and
interpersonal skills. These skills take place in validating therapeutic environment. These skills
are thought for the patients to practice their abilities to solve problems on their own. They are
exposed into certain situations that can also happen in real life. Through this, they may solve
problems in real life easier as expected. Clients in DBT cycle twice through four skills training
modules which are the mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal
effectiveness. Mindfulness focuses on the ability of the client to be aware of the moment, not to
be distracted, and to be nonjudgmental. In emotional regulation, the clients are thought to
identify their emotions and appreciate the effects of emotions on one self and others. They also
learn how to counteract negative emotional states and to engage in behavior that will increase
positive emotions. In distress tolerance, they learn to cope with stressful situations and to self-
soothe. Interpersonal effectiveness teaches the client to deal effectively with interpersonal
conflict, to appropriately get ones desires and needs met, and to appropriately say no to
unwanted demands from others. Clients are asked to commit 12 months of DBT treatment. It is
considered as more effective than other treatments in reducing self-harm behaviors and other
unnecessary acts.

An Evaluation of Behavior Therapy

It is said that the progress of CBT is tangible evidence of what can be accomplished when
the mentalistic, subjective, and nonspecific mumbo jumbo of psychodynamics or
phenomenology is cast aside. On the other hand, it is also seen as superficial, pretentiously
scientific and even dehumanizing.

Strengths

As mentioned, there is ample evidence that a wide variety of behavioral and cognitive-
behavioral therapies are efficacious. CBT appear to be the treatment of choice for many
disorders. It shows that a client who received any forms of behavioral therapy was functioning
better than at least 75% of those who did not receive any treatment. It is also said that CBT series
were shorter and more efficient. Compared to the usual psychotherapy hours, it was replaced by
a shorter series of consultations that only focuses more on the patients specific complaints.