ABSTRACT
Effective counseling and therapy assumes that the counselor possesses a theoretical framework and a “cognitive map” of the normal process of development and functioning, a theory of how functioning goes awry and becomes maladaptive, and a theory of how maladaptive processes and patterns can be changed. Possessing such a theoretical framework guides what a counselor observes and collects as client information, how that information is observed and collected, how that information is conceptualized, and how the interventions based on that conceptualization are planned, implemented, and evaluated. Although counselors may consider themselves to be “eclectic” in how they do counseling, research suggests that most counselors espouse at least one basic theoretical orientation and a corresponding cognitive map that informs their understanding of clients and the counseling process. This cognitive map serves to guide their therapeutic efforts in a consistent, confident, and effective manner (Binder, 2004). This chapter provides a brief overview of the cognitive-behavioral orientation and its core competencies. It begins with a brief discussion of the basic theoretical premises common to all cognitive-behavioral approaches and a detailed description of the core competencies of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. A case example reflects these theoretical premises and illustrates these core competencies.
