Understanding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Case Study Approach

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The patient in the case study was referred for CBT by his GP. This is a talking treatment where patients are taught to recognise the effects that their feelings have on their actions and moods. CBT attempts to teach patients how to deal with their problems in practical ways that can improve their state of mind by breaking down big problems into smaller parts that can be more easily addressed, and changing negative patterns of thoughts and actions (26,27). Sessions of CBT are usually once a week or once every two weeks. Sessions last 30-60 minutes and treatment usually lasts for between five and 20 sessions. During the sessions, problems are broken down into five main areas: situations, thoughts, emotions, physical feelings, and actions. The patient and therapist then work together to determine which area(s) is/are causing the negative effects on the patient. The therapist then helps the patient work out how to change the thought or behaviour causing the problem and how to realistically practice these changes in everyday life (27,28). The ultimate goal is to give the patient the tools they need to tackle problems that they will face in their life in such a way that they do not fall into depression. …show more content…

It comes from the belief that by resolving the problems that an individual faces in everyday life, depressive symptoms will improve. Treatment lasts from eight to 16 sessions. The therapist attempts to teach the patient a step-by-step process with which to solve problems they will face: identifying the problem, possible realistic solutions, choosing the best solution available, developing and executing a plan of action, and finally assessing the effectiveness of the problem-solving. The therapy is effective in some ways but some experts think that it is too focused on specific problems and that depression as a whole is too broad an issue.

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