ABSTRACT
A primary purpose of the assessment process is to gather information that enables the clinician to develop an idiosyncratic case formulation based on a theory or model of the particular disorder. As such, assessment is theoretically driven and the CBT therapist is interested in ascertaining the content of thinking, cognitive distortions, core beliefs and behaviours that contribute to the maintenance and exacerbation of the disorder. For example, in depressive disorders, the goal is to identify core beliefs and negative automatic thoughts that fall within the negative cognitive triad, such as ``I'm a failure'', ``everything always goes badly'' and ``nothing will ever change''. In relation to these cognitions, the CBT therapist looks for behaviours that prevent the individual from modifying the content of these cognitions, e.g. the belief ``I'm a failure'' might be maintained by avoidance and other forms of safety behaviour.
