Reflection On The Concept Of Cognitive And Behavioral Therapy

The textbook did not spend a large portion on the concept of therapist cognitions, but I think this concept is useful for my future practice. It reminds me of my past practical experience of leading a group. When I was leading a group, I was extremely uncomfortable with silence. If the silence occurred, I kept thinking if I did something inappropriate and caused the silence. Then, I became more and more nervous and my voice even started shaking. I noticed my endless automatic thoughts but I did not deal with them, which ultimately interrupted the implementation of the group plan. This concept shares some common features with the concept of countertransference in psychoanalysis to some degree. In the therapy, the clients’ reactions and the

When asking the clients what happened in the previous week, they may providing too little or too detailed information. If the clients provide too much data, some of the information may not be necessary. In this way, I will interrupt in a proper way and bring the client back on the track. Especially in the cognitive and behavioral therapy which is problem-focused and well structured, too much irrelevant data may interfere with the implantation of

If modifying the questions is not effective, I will evaluate my relationship with the clients. Their reluctance in providing information may result from inadequate socializing activities and lack of trust in me. That is to say, I should work more on building therapeutic rapport. Another possibility may be that the clients encounter some difficulties in the preceding week. Before reading this chapter, I did not think about this point. In my future practice, if the clients fail to describe their problems and are reluctant in agenda setting, I will investigate further about their thoughts of why they feel difficult to do so. Is it because they have too many problems and do know how to select a major one? Or is it because they do not fully believe the efficacy of the therapy? If it is the former reason, I will tell the client that we can work one by one but he/she needs to make selection first. If it is the latter reason, I should be sensitive and give them enough space. If I push too hard and force them to name their problems, the therapeutic relationship may be