ABSTRACT
Cognitive therapy first developed from devising generic models of understanding that might be used to describe the symptomatic, maintenance and causative features of clients suffering from general psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression. These models are now termed ‘formulations’ whereas ‘conceptualizations’ are models drawn up for individual clients and show their individual variations. Conceptualizations are used to work out what the best interventions are for this particular client. This means that cognitive therapy is conceptualization-driven but also relatively flexible and eclectic, according to the needs of the individual client.
