Cognitive behavioural therapy Flashcards
What is cognitive behavioural therapy?
A form of talking therapy that can be used to treat people with a wide range of mental health problems
What is cognitive behavioural therapy based on?
CBT is based on the idea that how we think (cognition), how we feel (emotion) and how we act (behaviour) all interact together. Specifically, our thoughts determine our feelings and behaviour
If a person suffers with psychological distress, what happens to how they interpret situations?
How they interpret situations becomes skewed, which then has a negative impact on the actions they take
What is the aim of cognitive behavioural therapy?
The aim of CBT is to help people become aware of when they make negative interpretations and of behavioural patterns that reinforce distorted thinking.
CBT helps people develop alternative ways of thinking and behaving to reduce their psychological distress.
What does the CBT triangle consist of?
Thoughts, emotions and behaviours
What are 7 common cognitive distortions?
All-or-nothing thinking, catastrophising, mind reading, emotional reasoning, labelling, personalisation and intrusive thoughts?
What is all-or-nothing thinking?
Viewing situations in binary terms, without considering nuance
What is catastrophising?
Anticipating the most adverse outcomes without empirical justification
What is mind reading?
Presuming to understand others’ thoughts without direct evidence
What is emotional reasoning?
Basing conclusions on emotions rather than objective data
What is labelling?
Characterising oneself or others based on a singular trait or event
What is personalisation?
Attributing external events to oneself without a clear casual link
What are intrusive thoughts?
Unwelcome, involuntary thoughts, images or unpleasant ideas, that can become an obsession, is upsetting and can feel difficult to eliminate
What is the thought part of the CBT triangle?
The cognitive therapist teaches clients how to identify distorted cognitions through a process of evaluation. The clients learn to discriminate between their own thoughts and reality. They learn the influence that cognition has on their feelings, and they are taught to recognise, observe, and monitor their own thoughts.
What are feelings?
Emotional responses that influence our communication, reactions and decisions
What is the emotions part of the CBT triangle?
Recognising and healthily expressing these feelings is crucial for emotional well-being. Dismissing or ridiculing them is counterproductive.
Emotions are best managed through acceptance; understanding and validation can alleviate emotional intensity. Though originating in the brain, feelings manifest in the body, alerting us to potential issues or affirming positive situations.
What is the behaviour part of the CBT triangle?
CBT can modify behaviours using techniques like behavioural activation, which aims to increase engagement in positive activities, and gradual exposure, which systematically introduces individuals to feared or avoided situations in a controlled manner
What are behaviours?
Responses to stimuli and are influenced by thoughts and emotions
