ABSTRACT
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic approach that is based on the cognitive behavioral model. This model focuses on a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and takes a special interest in how they connect. This is an ongoing cycle; often, the behaviors a person chooses will reinforce his or her thoughts and feelings. The following is an example:
Example: Patty
Thought: Patty has a belief that she is not pretty and therefore feels like no one would want to date her.
Feeling: Patty feels sad, unloved, and lonely.
Behavior: Patty chooses not to socialize because she is scared to be rejected and withdraws from people.
Ongoing cycle: In turn, no one asks to date her because she does not allow herself to be put in social situations where she could meet potential partners. This reinforces her original thought that she is not pretty, but she does not realize that her behaviors are strengthening this thought and her feelings of sadness and loneliness.
Schemas describe a person’s pattern of thoughts through underlying, pervasive organizational structures. Each person has a different way of organizing and understanding information as it is presented.Core beliefs are the underlying feelings one has about himself or herself. There are three overarching negative core belief categories: “I’m helpless,” “I’m worthless,” and “I’m unlovable.”
Cognitive distortions: People will often distort information to fit their core beliefs and schemas. Twelve categories of “cognitive distortions” have been identified and defined based on a person’s tendency to change or ignore information with which they are provided.
Automatic thoughts: When any situation arises, people tend to have thoughts that pop into their heads without warning. These are the quick, initial thoughts that go through a person’s mind when a negative event happens, often related to the gut-level reaction one has toward the event.
Behavioral interventions are used in CBT to combat the lack or avoidance of physical and/or pleasurable activity that we often experience as a result of low mood, anxiety, and other psychological distress.
