Aaron T. Beck developed Cognitive Therapy.
Cognitive Theorists believe that many factors contribute to the development of dysfunctional cognition such as a person's biology and genetic predispositions, life experiences, and their accumulation of knowledge and learning.
Distorted cognitions begin in childhood and are reflected in people's fundamental beliefs.
Cognitions can be categorized according to 4 levels:
Automatic thoughts: stream of cognitions that constantly flow through mind
Intermediate beliefs: reflect extreme and absolute rules and attitudes that shape a person's automatic thoughts
Core beliefs: central ideas about ourselves that underline many of our automatic cognitions and usually are reflected in our intermediate beliefs.
Schemas: hypothesized mental structure that organizes information that encompasses the core beliefs.
Techniques to Modify Cognitions:
Challenging absolute statements: clients will sometimes use absolutes such as "never" and "always" when telling stories. The therapist has the client look at those statements to see if they actually mean never or always to make them more accurate.
Activity scheduling: this encourages people to plan and try out new behaviors and ways of thinking as well as to remain active despite feelings of sadness.
Reattributing blame: when a client blames themselves for things going wrong this can lead to negative emotions and behaviors. By using Socratic dialogue and asking questions, therapists can help clients look at the situation more clearly
Cognitive Rehearsal: is a strategy where people mentally rehearse a new behavior and then create a cognitive model of themselves successfully performing that behavior.
Diversions or distractions: helps people reduce negative thinking by distracting them from it
Self-talk: people will repeat to themselves may times a day positive and encouraging phrases that they have identified as helpful
Affirmations: A positive or reinforcing slogan that a person uses daily to shift their thinking
Cognitive Theorists believe that many factors contribute to the development of dysfunctional cognition such as a person's biology and genetic predispositions, life experiences, and their accumulation of knowledge and learning.
Distorted cognitions begin in childhood and are reflected in people's fundamental beliefs.
Cognitions can be categorized according to 4 levels:
Automatic thoughts: stream of cognitions that constantly flow through mind
Intermediate beliefs: reflect extreme and absolute rules and attitudes that shape a person's automatic thoughts
Core beliefs: central ideas about ourselves that underline many of our automatic cognitions and usually are reflected in our intermediate beliefs.
Schemas: hypothesized mental structure that organizes information that encompasses the core beliefs.
Techniques to Modify Cognitions:
Challenging absolute statements: clients will sometimes use absolutes such as "never" and "always" when telling stories. The therapist has the client look at those statements to see if they actually mean never or always to make them more accurate.
Activity scheduling: this encourages people to plan and try out new behaviors and ways of thinking as well as to remain active despite feelings of sadness.
Reattributing blame: when a client blames themselves for things going wrong this can lead to negative emotions and behaviors. By using Socratic dialogue and asking questions, therapists can help clients look at the situation more clearly
Cognitive Rehearsal: is a strategy where people mentally rehearse a new behavior and then create a cognitive model of themselves successfully performing that behavior.
Diversions or distractions: helps people reduce negative thinking by distracting them from it
Self-talk: people will repeat to themselves may times a day positive and encouraging phrases that they have identified as helpful
Affirmations: A positive or reinforcing slogan that a person uses daily to shift their thinking