“Cognitive therapy seeks to alleviate psychological stresses by correcting faulty conceptions and self-signals. By correcting erroneous beliefs we can lower excessive reactions."
--- Aaron Beck
Cognitive therapy
Arron Beck is thought of as a major force in the realm of cognitive therapy practices, but he drew upon many other psychologist's (George Kelly, Alfred Adler, and Karen Horney) ideas to formulate his own personal theory. Beck really set his system of cognitive therapy apart from others through research, clinical application, and writing.
Theoretical Concepts & Principles
The cognitive model postures that dysfunctional or maladaptive thinking, which influences a person's mood and behavior, is common to all psychological disturbances. According to Judith Beck (Aaron Beck's daughter) people will experience improvements in their emotional state and behavior, only after they have learned to evaluate their thinking in a more realistic and adaptive manner. A major purpose of cognitive therapy is to teach people to identify, evaluate and modify their own dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs.
COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS: According to cognitive therapists, there are many potential factors that can contribute to the development of dysfunctional cognition. Distorted cognitions begin to take shape in childhood and are mirrored in a person's fundamental beliefs, which can make people more susceptible to issues. The stress-vulnerability model states that; the more that stress occurs, the more the person's underlying dysfunctional beliefs and schemas are able to affect cognition.
Principles of Cognitive Therapy:
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Levels of Cognitions: In cognitive theory cognitions exist in four levels:
Automatic Thoughts: or the stream of cognitions that are constantly flowing through our minds. Automatic thoughts mediate between a situation and an emotion.
EXAMPLE:
Situation: Bob finds out his brother is getting married after the rest of his family.
Automatic thought: My brother must like everyone more than me, and didn't want me to know.
Emotion: Anger, sadness, or resentment.
Automatic Thoughts: or the stream of cognitions that are constantly flowing through our minds. Automatic thoughts mediate between a situation and an emotion.
EXAMPLE:
Situation: Bob finds out his brother is getting married after the rest of his family.
Automatic thought: My brother must like everyone more than me, and didn't want me to know.
Emotion: Anger, sadness, or resentment.
Intermediate Beliefs: typically reflect extreme and absolute rules and attitudes that shape people's automatic thoughts.
EXAMPLE: Bob's intermediate beliefs would sound like: " He is my brother, I should be the first to know of his engagement
EXAMPLE: Bob's intermediate beliefs would sound like: " He is my brother, I should be the first to know of his engagement
Core Beliefs: are the central ideas about ourselves that underline many of our automatic cognition. Core beliefs reflect our view of the world, other people, ourselves, and the future. Typically stem from stem from childhood experiences, core beliefs are not always necessarily true and can be identified and modified. They can also be strongly positive, and equally negative.
EXAMPLE: "I am likeable," "I am a capable person," "the world is full of wonder, and interesting opportunities." OR "I am an idiot," "the world is a dangerous place," "I always mess things up."
EXAMPLE: "I am likeable," "I am a capable person," "the world is full of wonder, and interesting opportunities." OR "I am an idiot," "the world is a dangerous place," "I always mess things up."
Schemas: Usually defined as hypothesized mental structures that organizes information and goes well beyond our core beliefs. Schemas have wider breadth and deeper depth than core beliefs and they encompass thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
EXAMPLE: "The world is a dangerous place and I need to be cautious no matter where I am, I need to avoid danger as much as I possibly can."
EXAMPLE: "The world is a dangerous place and I need to be cautious no matter where I am, I need to avoid danger as much as I possibly can."
Techniques
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Source:
Seligman, L., & Reichenberg, L. (2014). Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy (4th ed., pp. 40-110). Pearson Publishing.
Seligman, L., & Reichenberg, L. (2014). Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy (4th ed., pp. 40-110). Pearson Publishing.