Saturday, May 7, 2016

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Produces Results In Short Time

By Stephen Schmidt


The type of therapy known as cognitive behavioral, or CBT, is a practical form of short term counseling. It focuses on reaching goals by changing patterns of thinking. The beliefs that a person holds as absolute truth are not necessarily factual. These inaccurate beliefs may be preventing the patient from viewing the truth as it really is. This successful method, cognitive behavioral therapy, is practiced in New Jersey and other places.

You can think of CBT as a type of psychotherapy. It quickly identifies a problem and plans a way to change it. The inaccurate beliefs held by some cannot be recognized on their own. With CBT, they will be able to.

Immediate recognition of what needs changing is the single factor that makes it short term. A goal is set and achieved in a pre-planned number of sessions. If the patient can release the belief that he will not be successful at anything, he can replace it with a new and positive belief. A new positive belief will free him to achieve success.

The CBT therapist helps her identify the wrong belief she holds. If she cannot apply for a good job it might be that she does not believe she is good enough. Once that negative belief is changed to a positive one, she will know that she can not only get the job, but be good at it.

Usually during the first session, the problem is identified and a plan to solve it is set into motion. There is no delving into past childhood events that may have led to its development. CBT deals with what is going on in the present.

A fear of dogs is one example. Unless a dog has bitten them, most people love dogs. If a patient has to choose between giving up a partner or tolerating his dog, she may prefer to accept the dog. Although she is unlikely to adore the canine buddy, she can learn to dispel the fear and live with the dog.

Counseling may begin by talking about dogs and focusing on why people love their pets. Looking at pictures of all the breeds may be the next step. She may be assigned the homework of driving to a dog park, sitting in her car and watching the interaction of owners with their dogs and dogs to each other.

Next she may be given the assignment to walk down the sidewalk and pass a dog on a leash. She will accept feeling uncomfortable and repeat the process a number of times. Eventually, she will visit a friend who has a dog, reach down and pet it. She might gradually pet larger and larger dogs.

Growing progressively more able to stroke their fur is an integral part of her CBT therapy. A visit to a humane society is the next step. If she cannot grow to love dogs, she may be able to empathize with their unhappiness at not having homes. Now she is able to be close to many dogs at one time.

Soon she may reach the goal of being able to tolerate her partners dog. She may even learn to like the pet after some time passes. Most importantly, she will not reject her partner just because he loves and intends to keep his beloved dog.




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