| CBT The Center for Brief Therapy, PC, 10319 Dawson's Creek Blvd, Suite J, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA 46825 260-969-5583; fax 260-969-5584; email: freemancbt@aol.com |
From The Beck Institute, Dr. Judith Beck :
Questions & Answers About Cognitive Therapy
Judith S. Beck, Ph.D.
Director, Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research
Q: What is cognitive therapy?
A: Cognitive therapy is one of the few forms of psychotherapy that has been scientifically tested and found to be effective in over
three hundred clinical trials for many different disorders. In contrast to other forms of psychotherapy, cognitive therapy is usually
more focused on the present, more time-limited, and more problem-solving oriented. Indeed, much of what the patient does is solve
current problems. In addition, patients learn specific skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. These skills involve identifying
distorted thinking, modifying beliefs, relating to others in different ways, and changing behaviors.
Q: What is the theory behind cognitive therapy?
A: Cognitive therapy is based on the cognitive model, which is, simply that the way we perceive situations influences how we feel
emotionally. For example, one person reading this pamphlet might think, "Wow! This sounds good, it's just what I've always been
looking for!" and feels happy. Another person reading this information might think, "Well, this sounds good but I don't think I can do
it." This person feels sad and discouraged. So it is not a situation which directly affects how a person feels emotionally, but rather,
his or her thoughts in that situation. When people are in distress, they often do not think clearly and their thoughts are distorted in
some way. Cognitive therapy helps people to identify their distressing thoughts and to evaluate how realistic the thoughts are. Then
they learn to change their distorted thinking. When they think more realistically, they feel better. The emphasis is also consistently on
solving problems and initiating behavioral change.
Q: What can I do to get ready for therapy?
A: An important first step is to set goals. Ask yourself, "How would I like to be different by the end of therapy?" Think specifically
about changes you'd like to make at work, at home, in your relationships with family, friends, co-workers, and others. Think about
what symptoms have been bothering you and which you'd like to decrease or eliminate. Think about other areas that would improve
your life: pursuing spiritual/intellectual/cultural interests, increasing exercise, decreasing bad habits, learning new interpersonal skills,
improving management skills at work or at home. The therapist will help you evaluate and refine these goals and help you determine
which goals you might be able to work at on your own and which ones you might want to work on in therapy.
Q: What happens during a typical therapy session?
A: Even before your therapy session begins, your therapist may have you fill out certain forms to assess your mood. Depression,
Anxiety and Hopelessness Inventories help give you and the therapist an objective way of assessing your progress. One of the first
things your therapist will do in the therapy session is to determine how you've been feeling this week, compared to other weeks. This
is what we call a mood check. The therapist will ask you what problem you'd like to put on the agenda for that session and what
happened during the previous week that was important. Then the therapist will make a bridge between the previous therapy session
and this week's therapy session by asking you what seemed important that you discussed during the past session, what self-help
assignments you were able to do during the week, and whether there is anything about the therapy that you would like to see changed.
Next, you and the therapist will discuss the problem or problems you put on the agenda and do a combination of problem-solving and
assessing the accuracy of your thoughts and beliefs in that problematic situation. You will also learn new skills. You and the therapist
will discuss how you can make best use of what you've learned during the session in the coming week and the therapist will
summarize the important points of the session and ask you for feedback: what was helpful about the session, what was not, anything
that bothered you, anything the therapist didn't get right, anything you'd like to see changed. As you will see, both therapist and
patient are quite active in this form of treatment.
Q: How long does therapy last?
A: Unless there are practical constraints, the decision about length of treatment is made cooperatively between therapist and patient.
Often the therapist will have a rough idea after a session or two of how long it might take for you to reach the goals that you set at
the first session. Some patients remain in therapy for just a brief time, six to eight sessions. Other patients who have had
long-standing problems may choose to stay in therapy for many months. Initially, patients are seen once a week, unless they are in
crisis. As soon as they are feeling better and seem ready to start tapering therapy, patient and therapist might agree to try therapy
once every two weeks, then once every three weeks. This more gradual tapering of sessions allows you to practice the skills you've
learned while still in therapy. Booster sessions are recommended three, six and twelve months after therapy has ended.
Q: What about medication?
A: Cognitive therapists, being both practical and collaborative, can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of medication with you.
Many patients are treated without medication at all. Some disorders, however, respond better to a combination of medication and
cognitive therapy. If you are on medication, or would like to be on medication, you might want to discuss with your therapist
whether you should have a psychiatric consultation with a specialist (a psychopharmacologist) to ensure that you are on the right
kind and dosage of medication. If you are not on medication and do not want to be on medication, you and your therapist might
assess, after four to six weeks, how much you've progressed and determine whether you might want a psychiatric consultation at
that time to obtain more information about medication.
Q: How can I make the best use of therapy?
A: One way is to ask your therapist how you might be able to supplement your psychotherapy with cognitive therapy readings,
workbooks, client pamphlets, etc. A second way is to prepare carefully for each session, thinking about what you learned in the
previous session and jotting down what you want to discuss in the next session.
A third way to maximize therapy is to make sure that you try to bring the therapy session into your everyday life. A good way of
doing this is by taking notes at the end of each session or recording the session or a summary of the session on audiotape. Make sure
that you and the therapist leave enough time in the therapy session to discuss what would be helpful for you to do during the coming
week and try to predict what difficulties you might have in doing these assignments so your therapist can help you before you leave
the session.
Q: How will I know if therapy is working?
A: Most patients notice a decrease in their symptoms within three to four weeks of therapy if they have been faithfully attending
sessions and doing the suggested assignments between sessions on a daily basis. They also see the scores on their objective tests
begin to drop within several weeks.
Q: How can I find a certified cognitive therapist?
A: Visit the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (ACT) website: www.academyofct.org
You can contact the Academy of Cognitive Therapy at:
One Belmont Avenue
Suite 700
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004-1610
Phone: 610-664-1273
Fax: 610-664-5137
E-mail: info@academyofct.org
Q: Are there any CT / CBT computer-assisted educational programs that can help me?
A: Yes. "Good Days Ahead" is an interactive program for depression and/or anxiety, available through http://www.mindstreet.com/.
Questions & Answers About Cognitive Therapy
Judith S. Beck, Ph.D.
Director, Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research
Q: What is cognitive therapy?
A: Cognitive therapy is one of the few forms of psychotherapy that has been scientifically tested and found to be effective in over
three hundred clinical trials for many different disorders. In contrast to other forms of psychotherapy, cognitive therapy is usually
more focused on the present, more time-limited, and more problem-solving oriented. Indeed, much of what the patient does is solve
current problems. In addition, patients learn specific skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. These skills involve identifying
distorted thinking, modifying beliefs, relating to others in different ways, and changing behaviors.
Q: What is the theory behind cognitive therapy?
A: Cognitive therapy is based on the cognitive model, which is, simply that the way we perceive situations influences how we feel
emotionally. For example, one person reading this pamphlet might think, "Wow! This sounds good, it's just what I've always been
looking for!" and feels happy. Another person reading this information might think, "Well, this sounds good but I don't think I can do
it." This person feels sad and discouraged. So it is not a situation which directly affects how a person feels emotionally, but rather,
his or her thoughts in that situation. When people are in distress, they often do not think clearly and their thoughts are distorted in
some way. Cognitive therapy helps people to identify their distressing thoughts and to evaluate how realistic the thoughts are. Then
they learn to change their distorted thinking. When they think more realistically, they feel better. The emphasis is also consistently on
solving problems and initiating behavioral change.
Q: What can I do to get ready for therapy?
A: An important first step is to set goals. Ask yourself, "How would I like to be different by the end of therapy?" Think specifically
about changes you'd like to make at work, at home, in your relationships with family, friends, co-workers, and others. Think about
what symptoms have been bothering you and which you'd like to decrease or eliminate. Think about other areas that would improve
your life: pursuing spiritual/intellectual/cultural interests, increasing exercise, decreasing bad habits, learning new interpersonal skills,
improving management skills at work or at home. The therapist will help you evaluate and refine these goals and help you determine
which goals you might be able to work at on your own and which ones you might want to work on in therapy.
Q: What happens during a typical therapy session?
A: Even before your therapy session begins, your therapist may have you fill out certain forms to assess your mood. Depression,
Anxiety and Hopelessness Inventories help give you and the therapist an objective way of assessing your progress. One of the first
things your therapist will do in the therapy session is to determine how you've been feeling this week, compared to other weeks. This
is what we call a mood check. The therapist will ask you what problem you'd like to put on the agenda for that session and what
happened during the previous week that was important. Then the therapist will make a bridge between the previous therapy session
and this week's therapy session by asking you what seemed important that you discussed during the past session, what self-help
assignments you were able to do during the week, and whether there is anything about the therapy that you would like to see changed.
Next, you and the therapist will discuss the problem or problems you put on the agenda and do a combination of problem-solving and
assessing the accuracy of your thoughts and beliefs in that problematic situation. You will also learn new skills. You and the therapist
will discuss how you can make best use of what you've learned during the session in the coming week and the therapist will
summarize the important points of the session and ask you for feedback: what was helpful about the session, what was not, anything
that bothered you, anything the therapist didn't get right, anything you'd like to see changed. As you will see, both therapist and
patient are quite active in this form of treatment.
Q: How long does therapy last?
A: Unless there are practical constraints, the decision about length of treatment is made cooperatively between therapist and patient.
Often the therapist will have a rough idea after a session or two of how long it might take for you to reach the goals that you set at
the first session. Some patients remain in therapy for just a brief time, six to eight sessions. Other patients who have had
long-standing problems may choose to stay in therapy for many months. Initially, patients are seen once a week, unless they are in
crisis. As soon as they are feeling better and seem ready to start tapering therapy, patient and therapist might agree to try therapy
once every two weeks, then once every three weeks. This more gradual tapering of sessions allows you to practice the skills you've
learned while still in therapy. Booster sessions are recommended three, six and twelve months after therapy has ended.
Q: What about medication?
A: Cognitive therapists, being both practical and collaborative, can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of medication with you.
Many patients are treated without medication at all. Some disorders, however, respond better to a combination of medication and
cognitive therapy. If you are on medication, or would like to be on medication, you might want to discuss with your therapist
whether you should have a psychiatric consultation with a specialist (a psychopharmacologist) to ensure that you are on the right
kind and dosage of medication. If you are not on medication and do not want to be on medication, you and your therapist might
assess, after four to six weeks, how much you've progressed and determine whether you might want a psychiatric consultation at
that time to obtain more information about medication.
Q: How can I make the best use of therapy?
A: One way is to ask your therapist how you might be able to supplement your psychotherapy with cognitive therapy readings,
workbooks, client pamphlets, etc. A second way is to prepare carefully for each session, thinking about what you learned in the
previous session and jotting down what you want to discuss in the next session.
A third way to maximize therapy is to make sure that you try to bring the therapy session into your everyday life. A good way of
doing this is by taking notes at the end of each session or recording the session or a summary of the session on audiotape. Make sure
that you and the therapist leave enough time in the therapy session to discuss what would be helpful for you to do during the coming
week and try to predict what difficulties you might have in doing these assignments so your therapist can help you before you leave
the session.
Q: How will I know if therapy is working?
A: Most patients notice a decrease in their symptoms within three to four weeks of therapy if they have been faithfully attending
sessions and doing the suggested assignments between sessions on a daily basis. They also see the scores on their objective tests
begin to drop within several weeks.
Q: How can I find a certified cognitive therapist?
A: Visit the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (ACT) website: www.academyofct.org
You can contact the Academy of Cognitive Therapy at:
One Belmont Avenue
Suite 700
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004-1610
Phone: 610-664-1273
Fax: 610-664-5137
E-mail: info@academyofct.org
Q: Are there any CT / CBT computer-assisted educational programs that can help me?
A: Yes. "Good Days Ahead" is an interactive program for depression and/or anxiety, available through http://www.mindstreet.com/.
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: The information on this website has been provided to you by The Center for Brief Therapy, PC, only for educational purposes. Any information provided by this site should not be considered a substitute for
consultation with a board certified Psychiatric professional to address specific medical needs. Any link on the Center for Brief Therapy, PC website does not imply that we endorse any of the products or services listed on these links.
Psychiatric diagnosis and treatment are a rapidly evolving area of medicine. It is therefore quite possible for some information on this website to be outdated. In a spirit of partnership therefore, we appreciate any inaccurate or outdated
information being brought to our attention immediately. With the wealth of information available online and in print it is not possible to be all inclusive about the areas outlined in this website.
consultation with a board certified Psychiatric professional to address specific medical needs. Any link on the Center for Brief Therapy, PC website does not imply that we endorse any of the products or services listed on these links.
Psychiatric diagnosis and treatment are a rapidly evolving area of medicine. It is therefore quite possible for some information on this website to be outdated. In a spirit of partnership therefore, we appreciate any inaccurate or outdated
information being brought to our attention immediately. With the wealth of information available online and in print it is not possible to be all inclusive about the areas outlined in this website.
Frequently Asked Questions about
Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive Therapy
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |