ABSTRACT
Cognitive therapy for individuals with psychosis is based on cognitive models of understanding symptomatology and the aims of therapy are the reduction or alleviation of distressing symptomatology by cognitive change. Within the repertoire of cognitive therapy are a number of techniques that, when utilised according to a conceptualisation, should help achieve this aim. The therapeutic approach is guided by the specific problems and goals identified by the client. The formulation devised aims to help the client understand the cognitions and cognitive processes that underlie, maintain and exacerbate their difficulties. The therapeutic process will then involve the client and therapist being involved in a search to find out the role of such cognitions in the client’s problems, and later evaluating their accuracy. If clients find their difficulties to be maintained by cognitions that are unsubstantiated by evidence, then substitution of more accurate thoughts and thought processes should help the clients to achieve their goals.
