cbt/rebt- uiuc psych420

basic assumptions

collaborative relationship between client and therapist

distress thought to be largely a result of disturbances in cognitive processes

present-centered and time-limited

ACTIVE and DIRECTIVE

more empirical research than ANY other model

strong therapeutic alliances

better thinking = better behavior

REBT (albert ellis)

known for bracing approach

people contribute to their own problems by maintaining rigid, extreme beliefs

clients learn new tools to identify and dispute irrational beliefs

REBT goal

to have unconditional self acceptance and unconditional acceptance to others

may utilize a variety of other cognitive and behavioral interventions

often used as a "brief" approach

REBT techniques

cognitive restructuring: disputing irrational beliefs, identifying helpful self-talk and substituting more adaptive self talk

cognitive hw

bibliotherapy

rational emotive imagery: imagining a worst case scenario

role play

shame attacking exercises

CBT assumptions

aaron beck-- focused on developing insight to negative thoughts and maladaptive beliefs

assumptions:
- our internal way of communicating with self is accessible and can be examined
- out beliefs are highly personalized in their meanings
-meanings may be discovered by client, rather than taught or interpreted by therapist

CBT goals

change the ways clients think by examining the automatic thoughts to reach core beliefs and engage in cognitive restructuring

CBT theory

emotional or disturbing situation? focus on thoughts about the situation

cognitive techniques

double standard--would you apply same expectation to others?

distinguishing behaviors from personhood--how is failing an exam any different than being a failure as a person?

examining evidence: would client's evidence stand up to scrutiny by others?

acting "as if"

looking into future: will it matter in x years?

cognitive therapy

clients are asked to test their thoughts and beliefs against reality

collaborative effort--therapist uses socratic method

behavioral experiments

cognitive distortions

mindreading, fortune telling, labeling, dichotomous thinking, blaming, unfair comparisons

mindreading

you believe you know what others are thinking

fortune telling

can predict outcomes

labeling

assigning global traits to self and others

dichotomous thinking

all or nothing

blaming

focus on another person as source of problems

unfair comparisons

interpret events with unrealistic standards

cognitive triad: maintenance of depression

1) clients have negative view of themselves
2) tendency to interpret the world around them negatively
3) dim vision of future

further application

family therapy, group therapy

CBT strengths

utilizes clients own worldview an fosters self-exploration

emphasis on thoughts and actions

highly collaborative

interventions tailored to clients strengths

skills can be applied to daily life

contributions

systematic approaches; defined plan of action

relatively brief treatments, cost effective

demystifies therapy process

REBT v CBT

1) rebt emphasizes shoulds and tacits musts
2) rebt emphasizes philosophy more than cbt
3) rebt practices can be used more directly, forcefully