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Cognitive Behavior Therapy

 Advanced Cognitive Therapy, which evolved from traditional cognitive therapy, is based on the assumption that, in addition to paying attention to restructuring certain thoughts and behaviors, learning the principles of thinking is also important in therapy.  ACT helps people to understand and change the content of their thoughts that support maladaptive and substance abusing behaviors and helps them to understand their own thinking processes.

 The main therapeutic idea is that our thoughts and beliefs lead to our feelings and behavior. Most people seeking therapy do not want to feel they way they have been feeing. The approaches that emphasize stoicism teach the benefits of feeling, at worst, calm when confronted with undesirable situations.  They also emphasize the fact that we have our undesirable situations whether we are
upset about them or not.  If we are upset about our problems, we have two
problems -- the problem, and our upset about it.  Most people want to have the fewest number of problems possible.  So when we learn how to more calmly
accept a personal problem, not only do we feel better, but we usually put ourselves in a better position to make use of our intelligence, knowledge, energy, and resources to resolve the problem.

CBT uses the Socratic Method.
 Cognitive-behavioral therapists want to gain a very good understanding of their clients' concerns.  That's why they often ask questions.  They also encourage their clients to ask questions of themselves, like, "How do I really know that those people are laughing at me?"  "Could they be laughinabout something else?"

CBT is structured and directive.
Cognitive-behavioral therapists have a specific agenda for each session. Specific techniques / concepts are taught during each session.  CBT
focuses on the client's goals.  We do not tell our clients what their goals "should" be, or what they "should" tolerate.  We are directive in the sense that
we show our clients how to think and behave in ways to obtain what they want. Therefore, CBT therapists do not tell their clients what to do -- rather, they teach their clients how to do.

CBT is based on an educational model.
CBT is based on the scientifically supported assumption that most emotional and behavioral reactions are learned.  Therefore, the goal of therapy is to help clients unlearn their unwanted reactions and to learn a new way of reacting.  The educational emphasis of CBT has an additional benefit -- it leads to long term results.  When people understand how and why they are doing well, they know what to do to continue doing well.

A central aspect of healthy thinking is that it is based on fact. Often, we upset ourselves about things when, in fact, the situation isn't like we think it is.  If we knew that, we would not waste our time upsetting ourselves.

Therefore, the inductive method encourages us to look at our thoughts as being hypotheses or guesses that can be questioned and tested.  If we find
that our hypotheses are incorrect (because we have new information), then we can change our thinking to be in line with how the situation really is.

 Homework is a central feature of CBT.
If when you attempted to learn your multiplication tables you spent only one hour per week studying them, you might still be wondering what 5 X 5 equals.  You very likely spent a great deal of time at home studying your multiplication tables, maybe with flashcards.

The same is the case with psychotherapy.  Goal achievement could take a very long time if all a person were only to think about the techniques and topics taught was for one hour per week.  That's why CBT therapists assign reading assignments and encourage their clients to practice the techniques learned. 

Call us at 978-685-1337 to talk more about this effective treatment.