Cognitive therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that addresses maladaptive thinking patterns to alleviate emotional distress and improve behaviors. It encompasses Albert Ellis's Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) and Aaron Beck's cognitive therapy for depression, both focusing on challenging irrational beliefs. Techniques like cognitive restructuring and coping strategies are used to treat various disorders, including PTSD through Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).
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Cognitive therapy is a structured, time-limited psychotherapy that focuses on changing maladaptive thought patterns to improve psychological health
Albert Ellis and Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
Albert Ellis developed REBT, which emphasizes identifying and altering irrational beliefs to improve emotional well-being
Aaron Beck and Cognitive Therapy for Depression
Aaron Beck formulated cognitive therapy for depression, which focuses on correcting distorted thinking patterns and dysfunctional beliefs
The goals of cognitive therapy are to help individuals recognize and alter distorted thoughts and beliefs, develop problem-solving skills, and learn coping strategies to deal with life's challenges
Cognitive therapy employs techniques such as Socratic questioning, thought records, and behavioral experiments to facilitate cognitive change
Adaptations of Beck's Cognitive Therapy
Beck's cognitive therapy has been adapted for a wide range of disorders, including anxiety, personality disorders, eating disorders, and substance abuse
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
CPT is an evidence-based treatment that integrates cognitive therapy with elements of exposure therapy to help individuals process trauma and modify unhelpful beliefs related to the traumatic event
Cognitive therapy is applied across diverse settings and populations, addressing a broad spectrum of psychological issues such as performance anxiety in athletes
CBT is a combination of cognitive therapy and behavioral techniques, widely used to treat disorders such as anxiety, depression, and phobias
CBT involves changing both thought patterns and behaviors, using techniques such as cognitive restructuring and exposure to feared situations
Clients in CBT monitor their progress through self-report logs and other assessment tools