Deborah ButlerMarshall
Liberty University
Abstract
CBT is a psychotherapy intervention that has been integrated in mitigating various psychological and social disorders. Conditions such as bipolar disorders, depression, stress, among other social disorders have been treated by applying the CBT theory. The origin of this theory is traced back in 1950 where scholars where able to merge cognitive and behavioral therapies in order to generate this wide theory that could be used to widen the scope of treating different conditions. The precept of this theoretical application is anchored on its ability to alter thinking of an individual, which would have a significant change in his behaviors. This theory is widely sued to mitigate various conditions, and this is a source of strength in applying this theory as it invokes behavioral accords. In addition, the CBT theory anchored on education premises to clients, and this widens the scope and thinking of a client with regards to his or her conditions. Despite, its wide praises, this theory has subjective criticisms as will be reiterated in the essay.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a kind of therapy that is invoked whenever behavioral change in a patient is sought after, and it has the capacity to alter the thinking an behaviors of a patient. Besides, CBT fall under the class of psychotherapies, and its evolved in application where it shifted focus as a remedial treatment to depression, and it is currently used to remedy a significant number of mental illnesses (Barrouillet, 2011). Since mental disorders are associated with unhealthy thinking in patients, the CBT helps to alter this mindset.
Principally, the CGT theory operates on an integral platform of therapeutic approach, and as such aligns its operation as both problem focuses and action-oriented platform. Thus, the action of CBT as a counseling theory works on the basis of challenging the beliefs and patterns of the victims by assessing the entire system of an individual and only selecting and correcting parts that need repair and rectification. By identifying the right mindset and thinking, CBT helps in the identification of the right thought, while shunning negative belief and perceptions that could trigger fear in a person. Indeed, the manifestation of the CBT theory is ideal since it leads to the realization of realistic thoughts and beliefs in an individual (Corey, 2013). A human being is oriented to lead a positive life without emotional or psychological distress, however, cognitive distortions brings upheavals in an individual mind thus magnifying negativities and catastrophes within oneself. This is where CBT comes in a psychotherapy, which tends to mend distorted thoughts, and embrace an open posture and lead a live of positivity.
History of Therapy
The foundation of the CBT theory is anchored on two major precepts, the first tenet being the correlation between actions and behaviors with the emotions invoked in individual, while the second element correlates behaviors and emotions with the perceptions and thoughts. The development of cognitive elements came way before the realization of cognitive theory, and stoic philosophers’ precursor theory findings on this advancement. Besides, cultural precepts have made generations that a greater sense of wellbeing is created by advancing a positive way of thinking. An ancient Persian Philosopher called Zoroaster had his teachings grounded on acting well, talking well, and thinking well. Besides, Benjamin Franklin documentaries were anchored development of constructive attitude in order to invoke positive behaviors (Dobson, 2009).
The history of cognitive theory was equally advanced by the European philosophers like Frankl, Kant, Jasper, and Heidegger, and they reiterated on the importance conscious cognitive process in human existence. However, the Aaron Beck became the pioneer philosopher to first develop methods and theories of behavioral and cognitive constructs in combatting emotional disorder. Moreover, post-Freudian analysts like Horney, Adler, and Sullivan pioneered the works of Beck in realizing the relationship in realizing various cognitive interventions in influencing behavior variation on emotional disorders. These four post-Freudian analysts created firm ground on the perspective of analyzing distorted self-images, which anchored the platform for developing critical cognitive behavioral formulations of personality disorder. Other theoretical constructs by Kelly and Elli were a major milestone to the advancement of the cognitive behavioral theories and methods (Corey, 2013).
With regards to the Beck’s formulation on cognitive behavior a theory, a core precept of his work was founded on the maladaptive information processing in anxiety disorders and depression (Beck, 1963). In addition, Beck’s first publication on cognitive conceptual framework on depression appeared in 1960s, and they entailed symptoms in three lines of cognitions; self, world, and the future. As a pioneer in cognitive constructs, Beck’s works alongside other philosophers had initially concentrated on dysfunctional behaviors and cognitions, but were later extended to other conditions like bipolar disorder, chronic pain, and schizophrenia.
Moreover, the advancement and adoption of the CBT began in in 1950s and 1960s, upon the inception of the ideas of experimental behaviorists by clinicians. Joseph Wolpe and Hans Eysenck were the masterminds behind the exploration of behavioral interventions such as relaxation training and desensitization. The mainstream focus on cognitive processes was a later intervention, while the earlier focus was on snuffling fearful reactions.
The intensity of the research into cognitive interventions opened floodgates for researcher and clinicians to adopt this construct within their portfolios of engagements. For example, Lewinsogn and associated in 1985 as well as Meichenbaum in 1977 adopted various cognitive strategies in their treatment accords. Besides, these interventions opened new avenues for Beck to actualize is earlier manifestations with regards to cognitive interventions. The formation of CBT was a marriage between behavioral and cognitive relationships. Due to the integration of these two concepts to form CBT, the new interventions has served in a number of scenarios including treatment of panic disorders through a combined approach where cognitive methods are directly invoked to modify fearful cognitions, while behavioral techniques are applied to offer relaxation, and exposure therapy.
Types of Problems attended by the CBT
CBT has attracted multiple uses and application both clinical and psychotherapy setups. Therefore, the application of CBT has changed from treating depression to managing other conditions including; mental disorder, addiction, eating disorder, personality disorders, among other disorders associated with psychotic and dependence disorders (Giacomantonio, 2012). Other conditions that have been addressed by the CBT include Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, and with these interventions CBT has applied in treating variety of populations in distinct settings.
Moreover, the CBT is helpful in adults as it used to address cases like Major Depressive Disorders (MDD), marital problems, substance abuse, among other social and domestic cases. In addition, this intervention has been found to be helpful in handling varied situations and conditions like aggression, depression, eating disorders, anxiety in youths and children (Barlow, et al, 1989).
Strengths of Theory
CBT intervention has proved its worth as powerful, and an efficient behavioral construct in treating adult mental problems. This process has an advantage since it is a straightforward method does not involve complex processes. This intervention equally invokes its strength from the fact that it fosters a stronger tie between the client and clinicians, and at the same time offers a wholesome view of the client compared to a disintegrated lens that pharmacotherapy has.
Strength associated with CBT theory attributes to its precept of using structured sessions and performance-based procedures, and with cognitive interventions. This fosters strength in working between youths with their families (Clark, et al, 1994). In fact, this aspect of strength leads to a generation of adaptability with different demands of developmental levels within a child. Its structured nature is no exemption to this theory in giving flexible adaptation that meets varied demands of children. This theory is impactful on younger children based on its intense behavioral emphasis.
The second strength attributed to CBT relates to the existence of its multiple approaches and characteristics. This intervention is based on cognitive model, which grounds its application as a hopeful platform in which the behavioral change on individual aligns. In addition, the CBT intervention fosters formidable relationship between the client and the therapists. Thus, fostered therapeutic relationship between the client and the therapist is ideal for developing rationale and understanding of the client’s behaviors, and recommending an appropriate intervention.
CBT allow the manifestation of educational model to clients, who might profess varying behaviors. Education model gives the required education to clients so they could become their own behavior change ambassadors in order to avoid incidence of relapse to their conditions. This intervention is equally goal-oriented, and as such sets standards and goals to be achieved in any treatment accord.
Weaknesses of the CBT
Cognitive behavior therapy calls for skeptics and prudence in ensuring that the existence and popularity of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) does not surpass the evidence of its viability in diagnosing behavioral extremities. To begin with, methods used to establish the feasibility of cognitive behavioral research, have not yielded any reliable proof of its applicability in treating or rather diagnosing human behavioral, and cognitive traits (Barrouillet, 2011).
However, many stakeholders in the psychological sector have dismissed claims of cognitive behavior therapy not being subject to mental application. Additionally, many therapists have shown that the use of cognitive behavior therapy leads to spontaneous recovery in the majority of patients. The belief of achievements due to the use of cognitive behavioral therapy has resulted in many scholars questioning how the performance of cognitive behavior diagnosis was achieved. Due to the laid down contradictions, the truth behind the use of cognitive behavioral therapy is thus questionable.
Consequently, scholars studied the impacts of cognitive behavioral therapy on individuals with a cognitive syndrome of depression. As a result, diagnostic efficiency of the treatment had duly declined, to a significant level. Declining achievement, from the diagnosis of cognitive behavioral traits, also seemed to decrease over time, and methods used to affect the diagnosis. According to the founders of cognitive behavioral therapy depicted that it was necessary to abide by the therapy manual, to produce a reputable diagnosis, and hence treatment. Researchers in the cognitive behavioral therapy also discovered a trend in the declining effectiveness of the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (Dobson, 2009). Medical stakeholders who used the manual to the cognitive therapy attained more efficiency in treatment than medical speakers who did not abide .Failure of the system has also been attributed to dwindling ethical practices in the medical sector. For instance, the lack of the manual is the first unethical practice. Another medically unethical behavior according to the theory is a failure to do a follow up check and stipulated as a waste of time to save individuals who are not worth saving. Cognitive behavior is very unstable, and, therefore, fluctuates from one individual to another. Counseling cannot be done haphazardly, without an outline of pre-determined behaviours. In this accord, the success of effective advice and diagnosis of cognitive behavioral disorders can be boosted through a follow-up of client’s behavior against the manual, to make a correct diagnosis.
Furthermore, the prevalence of the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral about other counseling methods is also declining; the decline was as a result of associated drawback therapy in using cognitive behaviors to the counseling model (Barlow, et al, 1989). Other treatments such as psychodynamic therapy seem to hold more promise than cognitive behavioral therapy, over the last fifteen years. Strictness in the other counseling methods is what enhances their prevalence in diagnosing psychological ailments.
Using manual guarantees correct inducement to drugs and therapy sessions; with points of interest suited to counseling models used. For example, a study carried out in the United States by researchers shed some light into the audacity that cognitive behavioral therapy method posed over other methods of counseling. In conducting the study, twenty-eight volunteers were subjected to a cognitive behavior counseling process. The study subjected the individuals to different situations, under different therapy methods, to gauge the rate of dropout from the Program (Beck, 1963). Out of the twenty-eight sample size surveyed, eleven participants dropped out from the cognitive behavioral therapy, while only five individuals fell out of the other Program, showing that even the popularity of the counseling has declined with time.
Apparently, individuals with psychological disorders often portray similar characteristics over time. For example, there exists a group that injure themselves, or cause probable body harm. Harm to an individual, or a group of persons is a sign of flaws in a person’s psychomotor triggers. Psychological disorders usually occur during early stages of life, and diagnosis and counseling methods are the only well-known methods of diagnosis (Giacomantonio, 2012). The use of cognitive behavioral therapy for youths that tend to bring bodily harm to themselves has only proven effective is isolated cases. Moreover, cognitive behavioral therapy has been used over an extended period of time, but the current trends in treatment require for the counseling therapy to be reformulated, or integrated fitting the rapidly changing living standards of people.
In this perspective, various philosophers have made criticisms to drive the revival of the dying therapy model. First, the model fails to avail distinct scales, frameworks, and strategies that medical practitioners can apply to make cognitive behavioural therapy a success. Counseling therapies first need to gauge the cause of a mental illness, and then develop strategies to tame the psychological distress. Cognitive behavior therapy does not, however, provide for any means of establishing the cause of an ailment (Giacomantonio, 2012). Traumas or other uncertain events, and drugs may cause some cognitive disorders, which call for entirely different means of diagnosis. In summary, the main cause of the crippled counseling theory is inadequate research, and collusion between doctors and patients, which leads to jeopardized treatment strategies.
Furthermore, the assumption that divided focus on persons with psychological disabilities should be shunned by the stakeholders in the medical field, in order to reduce the loss of potential cognitive treatment theories, which can help in diagnosing various psychological disorders.
References
Barlow, D. H., Craske, M. G., Cerney, J. A., & Klosko, J. S. (1989). “Behavioral treatment of panic disorder”. Behavior Therapy, 20 (2): 261-282s.
Barrouillet, P. (2011). Dual-process theories and cognitive development: advances andchallenges. Volume 31 (2), pp. 79-85. doi:10.1016/j.dr.2011.07.002
Beck, A. T. (1963). Thinking and depression: I. idiosyncratic content and cognitive distortions. Archives of General Psychiatry, 9(4), 324-333. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1963.01720160014002
Clark, D. A., Beck, A. T., Stewart, B. (1994). “Cognitive specificity and positive-negative affectivity: Complementary or contradictory views on anxiety and depressi”. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 164: 759-769.
Corey, G. (2013). Theory and practice of counseling (9th ed.). Mason, Ohio: Cengage Leaning
Dobson, D. & Dobson, K. S. (2009). Evidence-based practice of cognitive-behavioral therapy. New Yolk, NY: Guilford Press.
Giacomantonio, S. G. (2012). Three problems with the theory of cognitive therapy. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 66(4), 375-90. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1285125541?accountid=12085
