preview

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy

Decent Essays

As the social worker becomes more mindful about the clients multiple and overlapping problems, they will be provided with a greater awareness about the best way to intervene across the micro, macro, and meso levels (Cournoyer, 2014). The way in which people view the world around them is based on their previous beliefs and experiences and can be either realistic and accurate or distorted (Walsh, 2013). Peoples distorted view of the world results in emotional and behavioural problems related to their inability to adapt to their environment (Walsh, 2013). Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that emerged in social work practice during the 1960s (Walsh, 2013). Research has shown that CBT is effective when working with clients who display symptoms of depression and anger (Dowd, Clen and Arnold, 2010). …show more content…

The goal of CBT is to assist the client to make a connection between their perception of their environment and their thoughts which are influencing their behaviours (Gladstone, 2017).
Another key concept that should be considered in CBT is the term schemas which Walsh (2013) defines as “the way we organize our thought process, store information, process new information, and integrate the products of those operations (knowledge)” (p. 175). In the case study, Naana described her perception of herself to the social worker by stating “what is wrong with me.” This belief is a dysfunctional automatic thought that she assumes to be an accurate reflection of herself (Walsh, 2013). Furthermore, this core belief has resulted in her experiencing a continuance of dark periods in her life that have brought about feelings of depression and episodes of anger. The social worker needs to assess her motivation towards making positive changes within her life and assist her in identifying dysfunctional patterns of thinking (Walsh, 2013). Naana would need to learn how to identify her negative thoughts such as feeling she

Get Access