ABSTRACT
Cognitive therapy for individuals with psychosis is based on cognitive models of understanding symptomatology. The aims of therapy are the reduction or alleviation of distress by cognitive change. Within this context, it is important to understand that the application of behavioural techniques shares this goal. In fact, Beck (1976) writes that “behavioural methods can be regarded as a series of small experiments designed to test the validity of the patient’s hypotheses or ideas about him (or her) self”(p. 118) and in the same way about the world, future or other people. Within this process, even when the therapist and client may be utilising predominantly behavioural techniques, this will still be done within a cognitive framework.
