Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Case Study Of

1. The theory that motivates cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) encompasses a cognitive model which proposes that dysfunctional thinking is related to all psychological conflicts. Furthermore, individuals will undergo improvement in their behavior and emotional state of mind once they begin to analyze their thinking process in a more accurate and adaptive manner. In CBT, therapists can provide lasting advances in client’s mood and behavior by working at a deeper level of understanding such as: patient’s core beliefs about themselves, their surrounding and other people. Overall, treatment is based on cognitive formulation and a conceptualization of individual patients.

CBT was developed by Aaron Beck in the late 1950s and early 60s. As he was testing the psychoanalytic concept, he recognized a pattern of “automatic” negative thoughts within his patient’s. He then guided his patients to
Guided Discovery entails eliciting the patients’ cognitions. In treatment, a therapist will determine which cognition (thoughts, images and beliefs) is most distressing to the patient. After determining which cognition is contributing to the distressing state of mind, a series of questions are asked to help the patient perceive their cognitions as ideas instead of facts. Then, the therapist will help evaluate the validity of their cognitions and reduce their fears.
5. Cognitive conceptualization offers the framework for understanding a patient. To begin, the therapist will ask themselves a series of questions that involve understanding the depth of the problem. Then, they will hypothesize how the patient developed their specific psychological disorder. The therapist constructs a cognitive conceptualization during the first contact with the patient, but continues to improve their conceptualization throughout treatment. The process of cognitive conceptualization is significantly important because it guides the therapist in articulating the most efficient and effective