Cognitive Behavioral therapy or CBT “is characterized
as a methodological frame*”, it approaches the modification of behaviors and
thoughts,”** and its goal is to enable the client to function independently within
a brief time frame. This outlook differs from other therapy programs.
There are three main steps in its application:
1.
Evaluation,
where we come together with the client to identify the behaviors that aren’t
working and need to be changed in order to better their quality of life and to
adopt a positive attitude towards the management of every day issues.
2.
Treatment,
where we put our previously determined-attitude modifying program to the test.
3.
Follow
up, where we monitor and make adjustments to the program, in order to stay
within the set time frame and make sure that the client concludes the work,
having acquired the ability to solve conflict effectively.
Just like in any other form of therapy program, CBT requires
the patient’s medical history to be considered, but the focus of the treatment
itself is of a more proactive nature; “What should I do to change?” instead of
staying stuck at “Why am I acting this way?”, or the typical “Why is this
happening to me?” This is important,
because although many times we know the reason why we are acting in an
inefficient and unhealthy way, we still keep at it with no resolution or
betterment of our lives.
Different from some psychodynamic therapies, the therapist-client relationship is always
one of collaboration and feedback, since within the realm of CBT it is
clear that the goal is to maintain change within the patient’s behavior and
attitude; hence the approach will always be a didactic one, a learning
experience, a growth process towards personal improvement and from the
knowledge of the therapist who acts as a guide, an attendant.
At this point, understanding that attitude and
behavior can in fact be modified to resolve most issues in a functional manner,
same as implementing the Socratic Method (a form of inquiry and
discussion between individuals, based on asking and answering questions to stimulate
critical thinking and to illuminate ideas), it is possible to find similarities
between CBT and Frankl’s Logotherapy (founded upon the belief that it is the
striving to find a meaning in one's life that is the primary, most powerful
motivating and driving force in humans) as cited above.
In summary, the goal is to guide the client so that
he/she can learn to discontinue unhealthy behaviors and replace them with more
of the productive attitudes needed to bring about change and a better quality
of life. It is about making the client an active member of his/her own
change along the therapy road. Much like Viktor Frankl’s vision, it is about
“Exercising your last human liberties: to choose your attitude, choose your own
way,” but responding to inner desires and needs, inside a more favorable
atmosphere. Having the knowledge of “how to act,” makes it possible to achieve
positive and productive results even in the worst of circumstances.
*http://www.cetecic.com/mod/resource/view.php?id=4
** http://www.depresion.psicomag.com/terapia_conductual.php
