| Relapse Prevention |
| Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a clinically-proven therapeutic approach. Hundreds of studies by research psychologists and psychiatrists provide evidence that CBT is effective for conditions such as these: Depression and mood swings Shyness and social anxiety Panic attacks and phobias Obsessions and compulsions Chronic anxiety or worry Post-traumatic stress symptoms Eating disorders Insomnia Difficulty establishing or staying in relationships Problems with marriage or other relationships you're already in Job, career or school difficulties Feeling “stressed out” or “stuck” Insufficient self-esteem (accepting or respecting yourself) Inadequate coping skills, or ill-chosen methods of coping Passivity, procrastination and "passive aggression" Substance abuse, co-dependency and "enabling" Trouble keeping feelings such as anger, sadness, fear, guilt, shame, eagerness, excitement, etc., within bounds Over-inhibition of feelings or expression What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and How Does It Work? CBT is a widely used form of psychotherapy that focuses on changing dysfunctional thoughts, emotions, and behavior.. Cognitive therapy is based on the theory that individuals with depression, anxiety, and other emotional issues have maladaptive patterns of processing information and related behavioral difficulties. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the integration of two very effective kinds of psychotherapy — cognitive therapy and behavior therapy. Behavior therapy helps you break the chains between difficult situations and your traditional reactions to them. Reactions such as fear, depression or rage, and self-defeating or self-damaging behavior. It also teaches you ways to calm your mind and relax body so you can think more clearly and make better decisions. Cognitive therapy teaches you how certain thought patterns are triggering your feelings, behaviors, and symptoms — by giving you a distorted picture of what's going on in your life, and making you feel anxious, depressed or angry for no good reason, or provoking you into inappropriate and ineffective actions or behaviors. How Is CBT conducted? In CBT, the therapist and the client both take an active role in resolving the client’s problems. In many ways CBT resembles coaching. In CBT the client shares in determining treatment goals and in deciding which techniques work best for you personally. therapist and patient work together as a team to examine: 1) the validity of thoughts and beliefs; and 2) the effectiveness of behavior patterns. CBT provides more structured and focused then most traditional therapies. Some exploration of people's life histories is necessary and desirable — if their current problems are closely tied to unresolved emotional issues from the past, or if they are a part of an undesirable repeated pattern. CBT is primarily focused on the “here and now” and is forward-looking rather than staying stuck in the past like most traditional therapies. Education and exploration are a key part of the beginning phase of treatment. Take home assignments are often used to reinforce learning and to encourage behavioral change. The middle portion of therapy is focused on altering dysfunctional patterns of information processing and behavior. Frequently used cognitive interventions include thought recording, identifying cognitive errors or “Negative Useless Thoughts (NUTs thinking), examining the evidence, and creating rational more desirable alternatives. A number of behavioral techniques may also be employed, such as activity scheduling, graded task assignments, or desensitization procedures. The therapist asks frequent questions designed to stimulate a more rational cognitive style. Also, self-help is encouraged by in vivo therapeutic exercises and continued homework assignments. The last stage of therapy deals with strengthening and testing the clients new coping skills for dealing with problems on their own, this reduces the odds of relapse. During the final portion of therapy, more intensive work may be needed to change deeply held beliefs. Change in these underlying attitudes is believed to be an important part in the long-term effectiveness of CBT. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: The Most Clinically-Proven Therapy CBT has been very thoroughly researched. In study after study, it has been shown to be as effective as drugs in treating both depression and anxiety. In particular, CBT has been shown to be better than drugs in avoiding treatment failures and in preventing relapse after the end of treatment. Other symptoms for which CBT has been shown to be its effective include problems with relationships, family, work, school, insomnia, and self-esteem. And it is usually the preferred treatment for shyness, headaches, panic attacks, phobias, post-traumatic stress, eating disorders, loneliness, and procrastination. It can also be effectively combined, with psychiatric medications. CBT Is Usually Brief Usually CBT is short-term lasting from 10-20 sessions. Most CBT patients are able to complete their treatment in just a few weeks or months-even for problems that traditional therapies often take years to resolve, or aren't able to resolve at all. Although, for people with complex problems, or who are forced to live in adverse conditions beyond their control, longer-term treatment is also available. As a rule, however, most people can expect to begin their treatment with weekly visits. In some cases-particularly if a client is in crisis-therapy may begin with two or three sessions a week until the clients condition is stabilized enough that they can safely come only once a week. |
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