Chapter 2: Distinctive Characteristics of CBT

Question 1

Characteristics of CBT

Answer 1

Collaborative, structured and active, time-limited and brief, empirical and problem oriented; it also frequentl employs the techniques of guided discovery, behavioral methods, in vivo work, summaries and feedback

Question 2

Collaborative Project

Answer 2

Both therapist and client participate; the therapist has knowledge about effective ways to solve problems, and the client has expertise of his own problems;

Question 3

Openness & Honestly between Therapist and client

Answer 3

You need to be overt about waht you are doing and why, and ask the client to give honest feedback about what he finds helpful and what he does not

Question 4

Myths About CBT

Answer 4

The therapeutic Relationship is not important in CBT
CBT is mechanistic-just apply technique X to problem Y
CBT is about positive thinking
CBT does not deal with the past
CBT deals with superficial symptoms, not the roots or problems, so alternative ‘substitute’ symptoms are likely to occur
CBT is adversarial
CBT is for simple problems and you need something else for complex problems
CBT is interested in thought and not emotions
CBT is not only for clients who are psychologically minded
CBT is quick to learn and easy to practice
CBT is not interested in the unconscious
CBT demands high intelligence

Question 5

The therapeutic relationship is not important in CBT

Answer 5

Warmth, empathy, and unconditional regard, which were identified by Rogers can be found in CBT Therapists
CBT does not see the relationship as the major therapeutic ttol, it is nevertheless seen as an essential foundation for effective therapy
There has been increasing recognition over the past 20 years of the importance of relationship factor - but construed in cognitive rather than pschodynamic terms

Question 6

CBT is mechanistic - just apply technique X to problem Y

Answer 6

There is often a specific model for the problems presented by a client; There may also be a fairly detailed protocol derived for treating clients with a specific problem; a formulation based on the model would be developed for the client, but the treatment would not be technique-driven

Question 7

CBT is about positive thinking

Answer 7

CBT aims to help clients realistically evaluate their thoughts, not to show that they are always wrong or that things are always positive
CBT acknowledges that some unhelpful thought may have been accurate in the past but are no longer accurate
The aim of treatment is to understand and resolve problems, not to fix thinking

Question 8

CBT does not deal with the past

Answer 8

CBT still works with past history when necessary, nor that it discounts the importance of past experiences in accounting for problem development
Here and now accounts for the development of a problem are often different from the ones that are maintaining it and so relatively greater attention is paid to the present situation than to the past

Question 9

CBT deals with superficial symptoms, not the roots of problems, so alternative ‘subsitute’ symptoms are likely to occur

Answer 9

Strategies taught in CBT are often readily generalized to other problems
CBT Formulation of a client’s problems aims to throw light on the psychological processes maintaining them, and to intervene in ways that impact on these processes. In doing so it addresses fundamental maintaining patterns

Question 10

CBT is adversarial

Answer 10

It is sometimes suggested that the CBT therapist tells the client what is wrong with his thinking and what he ought to think;

Question 11

CBT is for simple problems: you need something else for complex problems

Answer 11

Within Axis I disorders, clients with very severe and chronic difficulties have been helped by this approach & there is now increasing evidence of its efficacy for those with personality disorders

Question 12

CBT is interested in thoughts and not emotions

Answer 12

Usually as a means to an end and not an end in itself; if a client is experiencing no emotion during the process, it is very unlikely that he will achieve a shift in emotion or behavior

Question 13

CBT is only for clients who are psychologically minded

Answer 13

CBT needs clients to be able to recognize and talk about thoughts and emotions and to distinguish between them; it can be advantageous if a client can relate to psychological models

Question 14

CBT is quick to learn and easy to practice

Answer 14

Using the approach in a creative and flexible way is as difficult as any other therapy and you are reminded that you will need to receive regular supervision and keep yourself updated on developments in CBT

Question 15

CBT is not interested in the unconscious

Answer 15

It recognizes that cognitive processes may not be conscious;

Question 16

CBT demands high intelligence

Answer 16

Makes no greater demands on intelligence other than any other therapy and has been adapted for use with people with learning difficulty