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Etiology of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Cbt)

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Cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) of depression is a psychotherapeutic treatment approach that involves the application of specific, empirically supported strategies focused on changing negative thinking patterns and altering behavior. In order to alleviate the symptoms of depression, treatment is directed at the following three domains: cognition, behavioral and physiological. In the cognitive domain, patients learn to apply cognitive restructuring techniques so that negatively distorted thoughts underlying depression can be corrected, leading to more logical and adaptive thinking. Within the behavioral domain, techniques such as activity scheduling, social skills training and assertiveness training are used to remediate behavioral …show more content…

The positive effects of CBT come from attacking and defeating thoughts and behaviors that can cause negative emotions. CBT is powerful because it teaches the client about the detrimental significance of the maladaptive thinking processes and maladaptive behaviors have triggered thoughts based more on assumptions than facts. This, in turn, has a powerful influence on affecting the client's behavior in a healthy and positive direction (Kozak, 2003). Process and Steps CBT is oriented towards empowering the patients. Within this specific, brief psycho-therapeutic treatment modality, the emphasis is on providing patients with skills to offset maladaptive symptoms. The two primary goals of CBT is to first create a therapeutic alliance between client and therapist and then, to use that alliance to facilitate treatment techniques within therapy sessions to create a positive emotional spiral wherein patients can implement specific strategies to offset their maladaptive symptoms, thus called cognitive restructuring (Sanderson, 2000). The first step in facilitating cognitive change is to develop and maintain a therapeutic alliance between client and therapist. The term "collaborative empiricism" characterize the nature of the therapist-patient relationship in cognitive therapy.

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