What´s Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Approach?

Index
1.0 Introduction
2.0 What is the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approach?
3.0 Historical Development of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
4.0 The role of the counsellor in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

1.0 Introduction
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, known as CBT is a common form of therapy used by the NHS in the UK. This assignment will describe what CBT is, where it came from and the role of the counsellor.

2.0 What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy? “CBT is a psychotherapy that is based on the cognitive model: the way that individuals perceive a situation is more closely connected to their reaction than the situation itself.” www.beckinstitute.org
CBT is a solution orientated collaboration between the Counsellor and client. The concept
A person has different thought processes that interact and the problem usually exists within Automatic thoughts causing a cycle of cognitions, emotions, physiology and behaviour. Although the focus of CBT is on the present, the behaviour will likely have been learned from a past event or gestalt (cumulation of events). In the past the Automatic Thoughts may have served a purpose but not now. Therefore CBT counsellors will look for a time when the client was not feeling this way. Changing behaviour will change or break the cycle and the person will change their
However, it was criticised as not being scientific. Behaviourists believed that what happens in a person’s mind could not be observed. They had studied with animals (such as Pavlov’s experiment with dogs) showing that behaviours are learned and can be changed according to circumstances and stimuli so that they become automatic.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy was derived by Dr Aaron Beck during the 1960’s from Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) pioneered by Albert Ellis in 1955. In contrast to psychotherapy, the concept was to focus on the present and look at the beliefs of the client that are causing their disturbance. These thoughts and beliefs could then be challenged. The aim was to use scientific research and empirical findings as much as possible to prove the effectiveness of this approach.
Dr. Beck’s research on depression concluded that clients had “Automatic Thoughts” that led to depression. If the thoughts about particular circumstances were changed to be more realistic then the client felt better and changed their behaviour