Cognitive Dysfunctional Therapy

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1) Cognitive-behavioral therapy describes many different therapies that use techniques to change and refocus an individual’s dysfunctional thought and behavior patterns to improve daily function. The therapist’s role is to listen and help the client understand the connection between their dysfunctional thoughts and the impact it has on their behaviors. Then, once the therapist has a clear idea of the clients’ goals, he or she will begin to teach the individual different techniques and coping skills like breaking down a negative thought until a solution can be found to achieve their goals. It is also important for the therapist to build a responsive atmosphere and trusting relationship with the client in order to for the individual to feel free …show more content…

Taking the central focus of the cognitive behavioral model, Dialectical Behavior Therapy involves learning new coping skills to manage distressing issues and the maladaptive emotions that come along with the problem. The therapeutic process of this therapy progresses through stages starting with stabilizing and helping the client, usually dealing with severe mental illness, take control over their behavior; the main goal is to establish safety for those who may be cutting or thinking about suicide in order to move on to the next step. In stage two, the individual should be stable enough to begin talking about the distressful emotions they have been experiencing. It is during this stage that having a safe and understanding positive environment is important in order for the client to feel free to go through upsetting matters. Therapists should rely on problem solving and acceptance techniques throughout all sessions to establish a nonjudgmental environment (“Dialectical Behavior,” 2012, p. 1). The next stage offers a chance for the client to speak about certain goals that aim at enhancing a more “normal” healthy life. A key component to Dialectical Behavior Therapy is to incorporate specific positive techniques into the treatment, usually during the third stage. According to Zanarini (2009), “This treatment consists of skills groups, individual therapy as well as phone coaching for patients, and a consultation team for clinicians treating them.” Allowing the clients to …show more content…

SFT and DBT are similar to the cognitive-behavioral therapy in that they all strive to change maladaptive thinking and behavior to improve daily function. SFT takes on more of the cognitive aspect by emphasizing current strengths and success, while DBT uses behavioral tools such as rehearsal and modeling to fix the problem, but both fit the characteristic of improve daily living like CBT. “Treatment strategies in DBT for helping patients to change draw primarily on standard behavioral and cognitive therapy procedures and on principles and findings from research on learning, emotions, social influence and persuasion, and other areas of psychology” (Robins and Rosenthal, 2011). Another characteristic of CBT found among both therapies is the therapists’ ability to be responsive and creating trusting relationships with the individual; therapy sessions for both have the client talking and leading the therapy while the therapist listens and helps build

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