Columbia University

Cognitive therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach grounded in the idea that a person's thoughts directly dictate their emotions and behaviors. By helping clients identify and alter dysfunctional thought patterns, therapists aim to alleviate emotional distress and foster more logical, rational interpretations of situations.

Cognitive Therapy

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

- Cognitive Processing Therapy
- Cognitive Remediation Therapy
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
- Cognitive - Behavioral Therapy
- Cognitive - Existential Therapy
- Schema Therapy



Types of Cognitive Therapy

The Concept Underlying ________ Is that Your Thoughts Influence Your Emotions and Behaviors.

This video features Judith Beck discussing the principles of cognitive therapy. It also includes a demonstration of her conducting a therapy session with a client.

Video: Judith Beck and Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive distortions are specific, maladaptive, and automatic patterns of thinking where an individual misinterprets a situation, often leading to emotional distress. A primary goal in cognitive-behavioral therapy is to identify and challenge these errors in thinking. Common examples of cognitive distortions include all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralization, and jumping to conclusions.

Cognitive Distortions

Cognitive therapy was established in the 1960s by psychiatrist Aaron Beck. The therapy's development was initially driven by his focus on treating depression, which he theorized was maintained by a client's persistent self-defeating attitude, even when positive factors were present in their life.

History of Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive restructuring is a therapeutic process that involves identifying and modifying negative or distorted thinking patterns. In cognitive therapy, this is often achieved through guided questioning, where the therapist helps a client recognize dysfunctional ideas, challenge specific patterns like catastrophizing thoughts about themselves and their situations, and ultimately find a more positive and logical way to view things.

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