Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as Psychotherapy Approach - Essay Example

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Background Information The contemporary society is characterized by a scenario whereby there are myriad emotional and psychological challenges affecting individuals on different dimensions. This has compelled mental health practitioners to formulate and implement strategies geared towards providing solutions to the identified mental challenges. However, research has indicated that the level of efficacy of one solution to another; these differences have created a scenario where practitioners engage in review of the most appropriate techniques to ensure that they are appropriately applied. One of the solutions that have been applied to facilitate the provision of solutions to the identified mental challenges is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This is psychotherapy approach that focuses on solving dysfunctional mental, emotional, maladaptive characters as well as inappropriate mental challenges through processes that entail. The examination between these cognitive facets based on goals. The essence of systematic review of the relationship between mental processes is pertinent for providing effective solutions for identified mental challenges. The process of developing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was achieved through a process that involved behavioral integration. Behavioral Integration was a process that focused on modification of individual’s cognitive behavior, however due to its inefficiency, this method was later integrated with techniques that facilitated review the relationship between cognitive behaviors, thus the development of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Relevance of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Students’ Own Practice There are various benefits that students aspiring to focus on solving mental challenges can access by applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as one of the methods. To begin with, research has shown that the application of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is pertinent for provision of mental health treatment owing to the fact that it has been proved to be efficient in solving a series of different mental health challenges through application of certain procedures and processes. In addition, this technique is important to students, with an interest to solve cognitive and emotional challenges facing the society owing to the fact that it creates a platform for students to interact with their patients, thus increasing their understanding of various issues ascribed to cognitive challenges. The interaction is usually facilitated by certain experiments that the students may engage in as they undertake their psychotherapy activities. Literature Related to the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that was used One of the Cognitive Behavioral Strategies that my team and I used to facilitate provision of effective solutions to the identified challenges is a five aspect model that was introduced by Greenberger and Padesky in 1995. This model focuses on the relationship between various cognitive facets such as: Emotions, cognitive process i.e. thoughts, physical reactions to environmental conditions et cetera. From our assessment, we realized that this model basically assists mental health practitioners to comprehend effect of a change on one of the cognitive process to the others for instance; determining the reaction of the client, when he emotions are triggered in accordance the changes in his surrounding environment. Research has indicated that this method enables practitioners to formulate solutions that take into consideration all the cognitive processes of a client, thus facilitating provision of pertinent and effective solutions. Another strategy that was applied in the case study is the ABC method, specifically, the Antecedent, Beliefs and Consequences. This strategy is basically a visual mode of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that focuses on represents that various models of CBT. Psychotherapy research has indicated that this model is pertinent as it assists mental health practitioners to assess the behaviors of their patients, thus enhancing their efforts in relation to provision of appropriate solutions to the identified challenges. In addition, the certain psychology organizations have identified the ABC as an important tool that allows mental health practitioners to write the Function Behavioral Analysis of their clients. That is, it provides a platform where mental health practitioners describe the behaviors of their clients, thus formulating solutions that would facilitate the achievement of appropriate outcomes. Moreover, as tool applied to understand and provide solutions to the victims of mental challenges, Antecedent, Beliefs and Consequences has been perceived as a holistic CBT approach that allows practitioners to comprehend various cognitive processes that occur on their clients that is, it integrates the understanding of emotions, cognitive processes, reactions to physical and biological environment in an integrative manner. Role Play is another technique that I applied to facilitate provision of solutions to my client, Brian. This method was applied in an integrated manner with the Antecedent, Belief and Consequences, ABC Model. The essence of using role play in provision of cognitive therapy has been identified as pertinent owing to the fact that it gives an opportunity to the client to assess and understand their automatic thoughts and consequences that may occur when they act in a certain manner. On the other hand, research has also shown that the application of Role Playing as a technique in solving mental health challenges is pertinent for mental health practitioners owing to the fact that it allows the practitioners to participate in some of the activities with their client, posing at some points in order to understand the emotions and cognitive processes of their clients, by specifically identifying the automatic thoughts that occur when clients are exposed to certain environmental and biological conditions. Reflective Account of the Purpose of the Assessment Tools In my case study, formative assessment was one of the methods that I applied to undertake the assessment of the client in order to facilitate the process of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy service provision. This tool was pertinent owing to the fact that it created a platform where I could diagnose my client’s emotional and psychological processes through application of formal and informal procedures. The formative process was also crucial owing to the fact that it facilitated the modification of the procedures and techniques I applied to solve my client’s mental and emotional challenges. My rational for application of formative assessment as a cognitive assessment tool was based on the fact that it provides an opportunity for accessing feedbacks from my clients regarding the efficacy of the strategies of procedures I applied, thus facilitating improvement. Moreover, I applied formative assessment due to the fact that it is an assessment tool that facilitates the identification and remediation of individual challenges that may be experienced by clients. Another rational that I applied to select this tool is based on the fact that it facilitates the development of meta-cognitive facets of clients, thus enhancing their understanding of their cognitive processes et cetera. On the other hand, my rational for selecting this assessment tool was based on the fact that it creates a platform for identification of loopholes that may occur in the process of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Service provision, thus facilitating the formulation and application of appropriate session plans for clients. Apart from using role play and behavioral tools, I also used direct observation of my client with a purpose of understanding their behavioral characteristics in some biological and physical setting. This was an imperative assessment tool as it facilitated the understanding of certain cognitive issues that were faced by clients, thereby enhancing my efforts directed towards formulating appropriate solutions to my client. In addition, my assessment process was characterized by collection of certain specific information from people that had direct and indirect relationship with my client. In some cases, I had to access certain secondary materials that contained pertinent information regarding various forms of emotional and cognitive reactions that occur among clients experiencing mental health challenges. In addition, I also performed a behavioral interview with my client as an assessment tool, this allowed my client to answer questions ascribed to my clients’ opinions on his problems and how he thought they could be solved. Research has indicated that undertaking such kind of interviews, which gives opportunities for clients to participate in provision of solutions to their problems, gives them a sense ownership of the treatment process thus enhancing the efforts of the practitioners directed towards provision of solutions. Read More