Principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy | Insights From Melbourne Psychologists
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an increasingly popular form of therapy used by psychologists and mental health professionals. It explores the links between thoughts, emotions and behaviours and can be used to treat different mental health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, OCD, etc.
What is Cognitive Behavioural Theory (CBT)?
Cognitive Behaviour Theory (CBT) focuses on altering your thoughts (cognition) and actions (behaviour), and subsequently your emotions. It’s a treatment typically geared to address your core beliefs, dysfunctional assumptions, and automatic negative thoughts (NAT).
CBT was pioneered by Dr. Albert Ellis in the 1950s and later developed by Dr. Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s.
Principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) | Melbourne Psychologists
According to Judith Beck, here are the core principles underlying CBT for all patients. These were outlined in her book: Cognitive Therapy: Basics and Beyond.
1. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is based on an ever-evolving formulation of clients’ problems and an individual conceptualisation of each client in cognitive terms
After a client shares their experiences throughout childhood and adulthood, and sometimes during therapy sessions, their current unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours are identified. Based on all the information, a conceptualisation is formed which is refined in each session.
2. Requires a sound therapeutic alliance | CBT Melbourne
For a variety of successful and effective therapies, a strong and trusting relationship with the therapist usually forms the backbone of a healthy relationship model, from the perspective of the client. The values of support and reciprocation are communicated in the roles the therapist and client play, and both consciously and subconsciously, this therapeutic relationship informs the boundaries of what productive and healthy relationships would look like.
3. Emphasises collaboration and active participation | CBT Melbourne
CBT is more efficient if the patient actively participates, rather than passively sitting in their sessions. The rapport between the client and therapist often seeks to negotiate the extent of participation and collaboration between the two, and what they should work on.
4. CBT is goal-oriented and problem-focused
The success of CBT depends on setting reasonable and realistic short-term and long-term goals. These goals can determine if the patient’s direction of treatment needs to be modulated, and if there is any need to address the client’s progress throughout the therapy process.
5. Emphasises the Present | CBT Melbourne
CBT focuses on the current problems and triggers causing distress to clients. It can also be used to break working dysfunctional thought processes and modify the core beliefs that inform these unhelpful patterns by actively challenging these behaviours with tools and practices, concurrent exploration of existing thought processes, and a restructuring of how the client automatically deals with their maladaptive patterns of behaviour.
6. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is Educative and Teaches the Client to be their Own Therapist
By teaching the client how the process works, how their thoughts influence their emotions and actions, and how to identify and evaluate their beliefs, patients aim to grow their self-confidence and independence by gaining control and ownership over their behaviours. The therapist can co-create and establish the plans for what the behavioural changes would look like, so the patient can evaluate for themselves if necessary.
7. Aims to be Time-Limited | CBT Melbourne
Therapy for mental health problems is not a cure-all or a quick fix. While you might see your symptoms for straightforward anxiety and depression improving after 4 to 6 weeks, the time frame can often be subjective to the experiences of the individual. Depending on your needs, CBT might take up to between 5 to 20 weeks for more complex mental health challenges
CBT, however, often looks to be a finite treatment, as a function of its goal-oriented structure. This makes the establishment of timelines, and their respective phases of completion, a key part of their implementation.
8. CBT Sessions are Structured
CBT sessions usually have a structure for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. A typical structure may have:
Introduction: a quick update, such as mood check, brief review of the week and collaboratively setting the agenda of the session
Bulk of the Session: Going over any homeworks, identifying any unhelpful thinking styles and road blocks, setting new homeworks and summarising
Closing Out the Session: Giving feedback, and managing the timeline of the treatment
9. CBT is strategy-based
No two CBT sessions are exactly the same. Every session is designed by the therapist based on the conceptualisation of the client’s background, the problems being discussed and the objectives of the session.
Pros and Cons of CBT | CBT Melbourne
The cognitive-behavioural approach has proven to be effective in addressing a wide range of problems. The benefits of the approach are that CBT:
Can be concluded within a finite period of time
Can be used when medications alone are insufficient
Can help change your cognitions and actions, and subsequently aim to change your perception about yourself and how you feel
Teaches practical strategies that can be applied daily and are sustainable
Teaches you to be independent and become your own therapist
Can be able to identify dysfunctional thought processes and prevent relapses
Despite this success, the CBT approach is not without its caveats, these including:
Having the patient willing to invest effort and time and play an active role in the process
Requiring longer time periods for people with more complex mental issues or those with learning disabilities
Involves being confrontational and directly addressing their issues, which can be an uncomfortable process that some may not have the capacity to undergo
May not always consider the patient’s environment and history in a comprehensive way when compared to other forms of treatment, which may lead to some underlying vulnerability not being addressed promptly
Getting Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in Melbourne
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks to address maladaptive thinking and behaviours, and equip clients with the awareness and tools to manage them effectively.
If you are considering getting professional help, Inner Eastern Psychology offers many services such as CBT, depression counselling, anxiety counselling and grief therapy. If you are feeling in need of support or advice, contact us to find out more.