Monday, 9 May 2016

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Produces Results In Short Time

By Stephen Schmidt


Some types of therapy take months and even years. CBT is not one of them. It is a practical way to solve a problem with short term counseling. Goals are reached by changing patterns of incorrect beliefs held by the patient. What he believes is preventing him from achieving goals. This successful method, cognitive behavioral therapy, is offered in New Jersey as well as other places.

You can think of CBT as a type of psychotherapy. It quickly identifies a problem and plans a way to change it. The inaccurate beliefs held by some cannot be recognized on their own. With CBT, they will be able to.

The therapy is headed for success when the patient recognizes the wrong belief is damaging. Then she can set a goal and go on to achieve it. If she feels she can never be successful, she will be dispel that incorrect belief.

A CBT therapist will be able to identify his problem. It may be fear of applying and interviewing for a good job. The inaccurate beliefs have prevented him from attempting to get a higher level position. New beliefs may dispel that fear and lead to finding a better job.

Usually during the first session, the problem is identified and a plan to solve it is set into motion. There is no delving into past childhood events that may have led to its development. CBT deals with what is going on in the present.

If someone if afraid of dogs, it is probably because they were bitten. If the fear makes it impossible to form a relationship with a dog owner, there is no way he will give up his dog. Although the patient may never be a big fan of dogs, she will be able to allow the relationship to develop even though it means she will have a dog in her life.

The therapy might start with a discussion about dogs and how people love them as if they were children. Looking at photos of the different breeds may be next. Since CBT uses homework as part of the therapeutic process, she may be asked to drive to a dog park. From the safety of her car, she will observe how owners and dogs play and have fun with each other.

Next she may be given the assignment to walk down the sidewalk and pass a dog on a leash. She will accept feeling uncomfortable and repeat the process a number of times. Eventually, she will visit a friend who has a dog, reach down and pet it. She might gradually pet larger and larger dogs.

Homework assignments are used as an integral part of CBT. The patient will be advised about that during the first appointment. Visiting the local humane society will be one of those assignments. She may learn to empathize with dogs longing to be adopted and go to their forever homes. Being close to them may no longer feel threatening.

By reaching her goal of tolerating dogs she may be ready to accept the one her partner owns. She will be cognizant of the fact that not all dogs bite. One day she might even find herself feeling affection for the dog her partner loves.




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