CBT

Question 1

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) based on?

Answer 1

CBT is based on the Cognitive Model, which explores how thoughts and thinking processes affect emotions and behaviors.

Question 2

CBT is based on the Cognitive Model, which explores how thoughts and thinking processes affect emotions and behaviors.

Answer 2

CBT is both a ‘talking therapy’ and a ‘doing therapy’. It is practical, goal-oriented, and focuses on the present.CBT is based on the Cognitive Model, which explores how thoughts and thinking processes affect emotions and behaviors.

Question 3

What is the main goal of CBT?

Answer 3

CBT teaches coping skills to help individuals manage different problems by addressing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Question 4

What does the Cognitive Model propose?

Answer 4

The Cognitive Model proposes that how we think determines how we feel and behave.

Question 5

What is a “thought experiment” in the context of CBT?

Answer 5

A thought experiment is a way to explore automatic thoughts and their effects on feelings and behaviors, e.g., waiting for a friend who is late.

Question 6

What happens when you have different thoughts about a situation?

Answer 6

Different thoughts lead to different feelings and behaviors. For example, thinking a friend is inconsiderate may lead to feelings of anger and actions like storming off.

Question 7

What is the ABC model in CBT?

Answer 7

The ABC model explains how:

A = Activating event
B = Beliefs/thoughts about the event
C = Consequences (emotional, physical, and behavioral).

Question 8

What does the phrase “It’s not what happens but the view we take of it that matters” mean in CBT?

Answer 8

This means that it’s our interpretation of events (our thoughts) rather than the events themselves that determine our emotional and behavioral reactions.

Question 9

What role do thoughts play in emotional distress, according to cognitive models?

Answer 9

Cognitive models suggest that thoughts and thinking patterns are integral to emotional distress, and changing these thoughts is central to effective therapy (Beck, 1991).

Question 10

What is the ‘Hot-Cross Bun’ model in CBT?

Answer 10

The ‘Hot-Cross Bun’ model (Padesky, 1986) shows the interconnectedness between:

Thoughts
Feelings
Behaviors
Body sensations
Environment

Question 11

Where do our thoughts come from?

Answer 11

Our thoughts are influenced by beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions about the world, which are learned through life experiences and shaped by genetics and personality.

Question 12

How does the cognitive behavioral model explain mental health problems?

Answer 12

Mental health problems are understood as arising from unhelpful or unrealistic beliefs (schemas) that affect how we interpret the world and process information, which in turn influences emotional responses.

Question 13

What is the Cognitive Vulnerability Model?

Answer 13

The Cognitive Vulnerability Model suggests that life experiences and core beliefs about ourselves, the world, and the future shape how we react emotionally and behaviorally to triggering events.

Question 14

What is Beck’s negative cognitive triad?

Answer 14

Beck’s negative cognitive triad refers to biased beliefs associated with depression and anxiety:

Self: “Nothing I do is right” (depression)
World: “The world is unforgiving” (depression)
Future: “I am destined to be alone” (depression) or “The world is dangerous” (anxiety).

Question 15

What evidence supports the cognitive model?

Answer 15

Studies show that people with depression and anxiety report more negative thoughts, and that reducing negative thoughts can alleviate emotional distress (Clark & Beck, 2010).

Question 16

How does CBT help reduce emotional distress?

Answer 16

By identifying and challenging negative thoughts, and using behavioral experiments to test alternative, more adaptive beliefs.

Question 17

By identifying and challenging negative thoughts, and using behavioral experiments to test alternative, more adaptive beliefs.

Answer 17

Behavioral experiments test out new, alternative beliefs by changing behaviors and seeing if the feared consequences occur, helping clients challenge their cognitive distortions.

Question 18

How did Aaron T. Beck contribute to the development of CBT?

Answer 18

Beck first described CBT as an approach for treating depression in 1967, and it has since been applied to many types of mental health problems.

Question 19

What does CBT typically look like in practice?

Answer 19

CBT is:

Active: Engaging clients in exercises.
Collaborative: Therapist and client work together.
Focused on the present: Addresses current problems.
Time-limited: Usually a set duration.
Structured: Follows a clear framework.

Question 20

What does thought record involve in CBT?

Answer 20

A thought record helps clients identify patterns of thinking associated with emotional distress, and allows them to assess and modify these thoughts.

Question 21

What is the goal of collecting evidence in CBT?

Answer 21

The goal is to gather and evaluate evidence for unhelpful thoughts and generate more realistic alternatives.

Question 22

Does CBT work for people with depression?

Answer 22

Yes, studies have shown CBT is as effective as antidepressant medication for depression, and can help prevent relapse after treatment (DeRubeis et al., 2005; Hollon et al., 2005).

Question 23

What did the Hollon et al. (2005) study show about CBT’s long-term effects?

Answer 23

Patients who underwent CBT were less likely to relapse into depression compared to those who discontinued antidepressant medication, and no more likely to relapse than those continuing medication.

Question 24

What mental health conditions is CBT effective for?

Answer 24

CBT is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for:

Depression
Anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, panic, OCD)
PTSD
Eating disorders
Schizophrenia

Question 25

What is the overall takeaway from the Cognitive Model and CBT?

Answer 25

The Cognitive Model highlights the importance of thoughts in mental health. CBT applies this model to help individuals change negative thinking patterns, with strong evidence supporting its effectiveness for a range of disorders.