3. Introduction
• A type of psychotherapy and short-term structured
therapy
• Developed by American psychiatrist Aaron T. Beck
• Uses active collaboration between the patient and the
therapist to achieve the therapeutic goals.
• Concentrates on unconscious processes and past
events.
4. Definition
• A type of psychotherapy in which negative patterns of
thought about the self and the world are challenged
in order to alter unwanted behaviour patterns or treat
mood disorders such as depression.
• Attempts to change problematic feelings and
behaviours by changing the way a client thinks about
significant life.
5. Fundamental Assumptions
• It is based on how a person thinks/perceives an event rather than the
event itself.
• It is time limited.
• Therapeutic changes can be effected through an alteration of
idiosyncratic, dysfunctional mode of thinking leading to cognitive
change.
• Based on patient’s thoughts and behaviour.
• Aims at altering the cognitions for effecting a change in behaviour.
6. Basis
Change may begin by targeting:
1. Thoughts (to change emotion and behavior).
2. Behavior (to change feelings and thoughts).
Cognitive therapy takes a skill-building approach, where
the therapist helps the person to learn and practice
these skills independently, eventually "becoming his or
her own therapist"
7. Classification
1. Techniques to interrupt cognitions
2. Techniques used to counterbalance emotional effects of
cognitions
3. Techniques intended to alter cognitions
4. Problem solving techniques
8. 1. Techniques to interrupt cognitions
• Distraction- In distraction, patient forcefully attends to
something other than the intrusive thoughts.
• Direct attention to another mental act.
• Thought stopping
9. 2. Techniques used to counterbalance
emotional effects of cognitions
• A suitably chosen statement, produced by a
conscious effort to balance the intrusive
thought.
10. 3. Techniques intended to alter
cognitions
By Beck and consists of three stages:
To:
• Identify maladaptive cognitions
• Identify logical ‘errors’ allowing maladaptive
cognitions
• Persist and to challenge the underlying assumtions
which generate maladaptive cognitions in the first
place.
11. 4. Problem Solving Techniques
• Define the problem
• Divide it into manageable parts
• Think of alternate solutions.
• Select the best solution
• Carry it out, and
• Examine the result
12. Additional Techniques
1. Smart goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic,
and time-limited)
2. Journaling (to jot down negative beliefs that come up
during the week and the positive ones you can replace
them with)
3. Self talk (In order to replace negative or critical self-talk
with compassionate, constructive self-talk).
4. Others (Thought recording, Positive activities, Situation
exposure)
14. Other Indications
Cognitive therapies have also been used in the
treatment-
• Dissociative (and conversion) disorders
• Paranoid disorders
• Solving real life problems
• Including marital problems
• Substance abuse
• Stress disorders
15. Limitations
Cognitive therapy is contraindicated-
• Patients with poor reality testing (e.g. With psychotic
features),
• Impaired reasoning and retention abilities, and
• Borderline or other severe personality disorders.
18. Summary
Cognitive therapy (CT) is a treatment approach that helps
to recognize negative or unhelpful thought and behavior
patterns.
CT aims to help the patient to identify and explore the
way emotions and thoughts can affect one’s actions. Its
overall goal is to increase self efficacy or proficiency and
sense of control over life.
19. Bibliography
• Sreevani R., A Guide to Mental Health and Psychiatric
Nursing, Edition 4th Jaypee Brother, Medical Publication
(P) Ltd., New Delhi, Page no. 110 – 12.
• Neerja K. P., Essential of Mental Health and Psychiatric
Nursing, Volume 1, Jaypee Brother, Medical Publication
(P) Ltd., New Delhi, Page no. 102 – 5.
