ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the basic principles of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and how CBT can be adapted for children who have been fostered or adopted and their families. Children are usually placed into care either because their families of origin have decided that they cannot parent them or, more commonly, because outside agencies have concerns about the quality of care provided to them. The term cognitive behaviour therapy is used to describe a wide range of therapeutic approaches from behavioural treatments to cognitive therapy and many treatments that encompass aspects of both. Beck's cognitive therapy was initially developed for adult mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression, and anger. Beck's treatment was verbally sophisticated and required the capacity to self-report, motivation to engage, as well as the capacity to understand complex ideas and relationships. In essence, the theory of CBT is that psychological distress arises from, and is connected with, unhelpful, dysfunctional, or distorted cognitions - thoughts - and images.
