Cognitive Behaviour Approach - Essay Example

? Reflective Report of Self-Practice with CBT Methods Introduction In the fast transforming external environment, knowledge acquisition and learning have become difficult. It requires new ways of approaching problems and understanding the complexity of situations and issues with broader perspectives. In the contemporary environment of rapid globalization and technology, the socio-cultural paradigms have emerged as major challenges that may hinder personal and professional growth. Thus, people need to overcome the adversities through new mechanisms of learning processes that would facilitate greater adaptability to new situations and resolution of problems. Burn (2002) asserts that learning is change of behaviour through internal process of perception and by observing activities. Reflective practices have therefore become important aspects of learning process that hugely help to improve and improvise one’s performance and promote personal and professional development. To meet new challenges, I had started using self-practice with cognitive behaviour technique to explore and identify various aspects of my daily activities that influence my mood and behaviour. Definition and background Cognitive behaviour approach can broadly be defined as the learning process by observing actions and using internal perception to evaluate them for one’s well-being and behavioural change as well as identifying external factors that influence one’s actions (Sutton et. al. 2007). The basic assumption is that cognitive processes affect one’s behaviour. Supervision used CBT is one of the most important elements in reflective practice as therapeutic problem is addressed through supervision in therapist’s self-reflection (Beck, Freeman et al., 1990). It helps to observe one’s feelings, thoughts and actions so that proper intervention can be used to change the behavioural outcome. Indeed, psychology of human behaviour is critical perspective in cognitive behavioural therapy that tries to explain human behaviour under certain condition involving emotional and metaphysical reaction. Self Practice/ Self-reflection with CBT method I was undergoing tremendous mood swings that were adversely impacting my personal and professional life. I decided to take up self-practice cognitive behaviour therapy to understand and evaluate factors that impact my day-to-day behaviour and mood. It was huge challenge as I was to observe and supervise my own feelings, thoughts and actions in subjective and objective manner so that I could notice changes and try to analyse those factors for improving outcome or making appropriate changes in my lifestyle. Self-reflection is carried out on one’s experiences through individual written notes or diary reflections in order to enhance CBT practice and clinical outcome for personal and professional development (Davis et al., 2008; Thwaites & Bennett-Levy, 2007). Writing down thoughts and feelings whenever one experiences major mood or behaviour changes is good practice for reflective practitioners. Since August I have been going through difficult phase of adjustment in the new environment of clinical practice in the hospital. Moreover heavy moods were seriously impacting my performance at work. Using self-practice with CBT methods, I started writing down my thoughts, feelings and actions whenever I was stressed out and experiencing mood changes. I was able to improve and improvise myself and my behaviour for better outcome. The following extracts from my personal reflective log have been used to analyse cognitive behaviour and identify factors that influence my actions, mood and behaviour. August 24, 2013 Start of SP cognitive behaviour therapy on myself Putting in words my feelings and thoughts was initially very difficult. Most importantly, it was hard to identify how and when the mood changes started. But I did notice that my mood swings had started from early August and I would be extremely upset or stressed out or even angry at myself as well as everybody else. So it was high time that I started exploring myself and find out about my feelings, attitudes, behaviour and thoughts about different people, issues, events etc. Personal value system, perspectives as well as external environmental factors are important elements that influence our cognitive behaviour and moods. In order to explore deeply my feelings and cognitive behaviour, asking difficult questions was vital input that would be able to give important insight into the factors that influence them. Pedesky’s (1996) list of questions designed as ‘helpful hints’ worksheet greatly facilitated in preparing the questions that would help elicit one’s own feelings and behavioural pattern. The worksheet helped me to analyse my feelings and behaviour with greater insight into my problems or issues that were responsible for my mood changes. I was frequently very stressed out and miserable. Using SP cognitive therapy, I was able to find out the factor that was responsible for making me feel miserable and low. In two of my practice sessions, I also used the worksheet developed by Greenberg and Padesky, (1995) to understand my problems. It uses five aspects model to understand and identify factors that focus on the inner world of an individual like inner wishes, conflicts and motivation and also the external environment that determines human behaviour. It helped to study the mood and behavioural pattern, thinking process and external social environment. Practice session 1 The five part model of Greenberg and Padesky’s worksheet was used on the situations to identify and analyse socio-psychological factors for mood changes. Practice session 2 The worksheets were very helpful in analysing my feelings and thoughts and gave me a great opportunity to understand the cause and consequences of my thoughts processes, physical reactions and how they influence my moods and metaphysical behaviour. The reflection had a huge liberating affect and helped me to not only overcome my negative thoughts and adverse physical reactions but facilitated my learning processes both within clinical environment as well as with my colleagues and friends. Self-reflection or self-practice is important as it helps to develop and refine skills to suit different situations (Davies et al., 2008; Chaddock et al., 2006). The reflection helps to analyse subjective thoughts and feelings that help to understand the thoughts and feelings of others, especially the client who needs my empathy. SP helped me to develop more empathy towards my patients which improved my therapeutic competence. The first two sessions helped me to analyse the events in a more objective manner and understand the factors that had led to the mood swings contributing to my state of long period of depression and misery (Beck & Butler, 2005). I found the self-exploration to be very cleansing and purifying as it helped me to improve and develop as an individual as well as professionally. It helped me to become more empathetic towards patients and clients so that I was better able to understand their problems and their perspectives. Moreover, I realized that effective communication skills would help me to earn the trust of my clients so that I could help them to overcome their fear and understand their problems. Indeed, more sympathetic attitude and understanding would have inculcated better relationship with client that would have prepared them for the psychology session voluntarily resulting in positive outcome for client. SP was very effective as it facilitated in evaluating my value system and my professional competencies so that it could be improved and applied with fresh input into my clinical practice. I did improve and regained my confidence by using my therapeutic competence with higher degree of skill. The self-practice session was not a smooth sailing as the different situations had really impacted my morale and self-esteem. Feeling ashamed and embarrassed and that I am not competent had activated my inner feeling of emotional insecurity. This was also a major shock that had made me very vulnerable, threatening my confidence and professional integrity. I believe that sharing the feelings etc. could have helped but I had found the experience to be very shameful and degrading so I could not share them with anyone. It made me so insecure and alone in the midst of my colleagues and friends that I would sit alone and be desperately unhappy and weepy. In fact I did cry so often that I was told to take up this exercise and use CBT to overcome my bad experience. Interestingly, this phase of my life was also enlightening because it made me more empathetic and helped me to understand other people’s behaviour and how they might be undergoing the traumas of their life. The overwhelming experience of being slapped was also cathartic in a sense because I realized that developing trust and constructive relationship with client is hugely important as it helps them to take new treatments with greater sense of security. It is important that wider perspective be developed to understand and inculcate sense of security and confidence in clients for new treatments. Keeping quiet is no solution and things need to be discussed objectively so that one can learn from the situations and become empowered for making correct decisions. The two sessions greatly facilitated a subjective and objective evaluation of situation and one’s feelings, moods and physical reactions so that I was able to learn and develop as an individual and as a professional. December, 2013 Reflective processes with CBT methods through ‘problem statements’ was also applied to investigate, analyse and evolve solutions for addressing the problems that I had faced at workplace. Two problems were used for the purpose: Problem statement 1 Social anxiety was adversely impacting my self-confidence. Though I was interested in participating in the professional meetings and group discussions but anxiety of speaking in front of experienced consultants and professors proved to be a big barrier to professional development. I believed that I would be struck speechless at the crucial hour and embarrass myself and my group. Social anxieties and apprehensions had made me appear incompetent which had resulted in low confidence level and low esteem. This had also led to poor concentration and low mood with frequent bouts of depression. Problem statement 2 I was highly anxious about my academic and professional success and feared that I would be called a failure if I could not successfully complete my post-graduate diploma. I would worry a lot which led to lack of concentration and focus on the studies. It was negatively affecting my functioning. Functional analysis for problem 1 Functional analysis of behaviour and thought processes and patterns was difficult to understand in the classroom sessions. It took reflective mechanisms and process to analyse feeling and thought processes. The reflective log book helped to analyse and evaluate different aspects of behavioural pattern, moods, physical reactions and outcome for making improvements for greater productive performance. Cognitive behaviour and how it influences thoughts and feelings was important paradigm for psychotherapy. Functional analysis for problem 2 Outcome The reflection with CBT methods was useful in analysing the problem and thrashing it out with deeper understanding of the issues. Investigating reflection and reflective processes within CBT offered great scope of personal and professional enhancement of skills that was intrinsic part of clinical sessions (Bennett-Levy & Beedie, 2007; Sutton, Townend & Wright, 2007). It was vital aspect of my self-practice or reflection that stimulated new way of looking at things and trying to find ways to redress the problems. Most importantly, the workbook or the reflective journal and the structure of questions were designed to help the therapist to synthesize one’s learning and use them to improve and improvise one’s competencies. Effective communications skills considerably influence workplace relationship and influence cognitive behaviour, especially the interpersonal skills of therapist (Bennett-Levy et al., 2003). My interpersonal communication was improved that resulted in greater self-confidence and belief in myself and in my professional competencies. I was able to develop positive relationships with my clients. It also enhanced my image amongst my colleagues. SP/SR with CBT was critical mechanism that revealed the effectiveness of personal experiential work which significantly empowered the therapist (myself) with more knowledge (Bennett-Levy, 2006; Bennett-Levy et. al., 2001). It considerably enhanced my theoretical understanding of reflective practices and improved my CBT knowledge, CBT skills, metacognitive abilities to develop wider perspective of issues and become more flexible in my attitude, beliefs and actions. Laireiter and Willutzki (2003) assert that CBT based reflections foster development of interpersonal competencies which was proved in my case. As a result, I am more prepared to deal with challenges. I now look forward to attending important meetings and speaking confidently in front of my peers. Most importantly, my self-confidence is reflected in my higher academic achievements and I believe that I would successfully complete my post-graduate diploma. Conclusion SP/SR with CT methods has emerged as crucial part of learning process with wider ramifications on the overall development of self. It helps to look at issues and events with new perspectives and changes the very direction of the course of life with new opportunities of growth. I can convincingly claim that after these sessions, I have become confident of my abilities and I know that I will become a successful clinical therapist. I am now more articulate in my thoughts and have better control over my feelings and behaviour. I have learnt to be positive and look at the problems as an opportunity of personal and professional growth. I will continue to use self-reflective practice with CBT methods so that I can learn from my mistakes. (words: 2166) Reference Beck, J. & Butler, A.C. (2005). Treating psychotherapists with cognitive therapy. In: J.D.Geller, J.C. Norcross & D.E. Orlinsky (Ed.) The psychotherapist’s own psychotherapy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Beck, A. 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