ABSTRACT
Cognitive therapy has been defined in many different ways. In this chapter, I speak primarily in terms of Aaron Beck’s model because his is the most fully developed system, although there are other models of varying similarity in the cognitive or cognitive-behavioral therapy field. Cognitive therapy is an active-directive type of psychotherapy that involves ongoing collaboration between therapist and client focused largely on the investigation, evaluation, and modification of those cognitive patterns that may be dysfunctional for the client. The cognitive model posits that psychological distress is determined largely by the interpretations that people make of the situations they encounter, rather than coming directly from those situations themselves. Furthermore, these interpretations are just a subset of those that are possible or adaptive in any situation. By changing one’s beliefs, one can significantly alter one’s emotion, behavior, and physiological response to situations.
