|
|
Cognitive
therapy is one of the few forms of psychotherapy that has been
scientifically tested and found to be effective for many different
problems. In contrast to other forms of treatment, cognitive therapy
is usually more focused on the present, more time-limited, and
more problem-solving oriented. In addition, clients learn specific
skills that they can use for the rest of their lives.
Cognitive
therapy is based on the cognitive model, which is simply that the
way we perceive situations influences how we feel about them. For
example, one person reading this paragraph might think, "Wow!
This sounds good, it's just what I've always been looking for!" and
feel encouraged. Another person reading this information might
think, "Well, it sounds good but I don't think it would work
for me." This person might feel sad and discouraged. So, it’s
not the situation that affects how a person feels, but rather his
or her thoughts about that situation. When people are in distress,
they often don’t think clearly and their thoughts are distorted
in some way, meaning that they are not completely true. Cognitive
therapy helps people to identify their distressing thoughts and
to evaluate how realistic or true those thoughts are. They then
learn to change their thoughts, which in turn helps them feel better.
Once
we have begun to think about our lives in ways that are more helpful,
we can evaluate our behaviors and determine which of those need
to change as well. Thoughts, feelings, behaviors and even our body
sensations are strongly affected by each other. Making changes
in one area will naturally create shifts in other areas as well,
helping you to feel better and make progress toward achieving your
goals. |
|