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Essay On Cognitive Therapy

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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) was pioneered by Dr Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, while he was a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania. Having studied and practiced psychoanalysis, Dr Beck designed and carried out several experiments to test psychoanalytic concepts of depression. CBT is a form of psychotherapy which is very effective in treating mental problems such as anxiety and depression. It includes techniques such as exposure therapy, cognitive restructuring without exposure, exposure therapy with cognitive restructuring and social skills training. CBT is usually administered within sixteen regular sessions where patients learn to control their thinking and participate in activities which greatly help to relieve symptoms of …show more content…

Individuals usually develop negative thoughts and harmful ideas when they are in distress. If this pattern of thinking continues for a long time, it can cause anxiety problems and depression. People can learn to identify their distorted beliefs and modify them to more positive and rational thoughts by training their brain to respond differently and think healthfully. Cognitive therapy focuses on teaching patients to relax and to be in control of their thoughts and ideas by neutralising negative thoughts with positive ones. In cognitive therapy, it’s also important to teach patients to move forward from their pasts, step by step, as the process of changing the pattern of thinking is gradual. Two very important factors for a successful cognitive therapy are determination and focusing. Patients need to focus on what exactly is causing their social anxiety first before they start working on overcoming the setbacks. Needless to say, patients must be equipped with patience and determination to overcome anxiety as the process takes time and positive results do not quickly

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