The 4 main characteristics of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Summary of the characteristics of psychotherapy based on the cognitive-behavioral model.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the most popular models of psychological intervention and is known for being effective and versatile, applicable to a wide range of problems to be treated. It is one of the predominant methodologies in current psychological intervention due to its effective results.

Here we will learn the distinctive characteristics of cognitive-behavioral therapy, with a summary of the way in which cognitive-behavioral therapy is used.The article is a summary of how cognitive-behavioral therapy works to help people.

What do we understand by cognitive-behavioral model in psychotherapy?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy comprises a series of techniques and strategies useful for helping those with psychological needs or problems (not necessarily psychopathological), based on the scientific method. These forms of intervention aim to achieve a profound change in the cognitive and behavioral processes of the person, making more resources available to him/her.making him/her have more resources to cope with certain situations.

This type of therapy is applied in a wide variety of psychological disorders and problems in the way of relating to other people. Historically, it originated in the 50's and 60's as a response to the behaviorist perspective of emotions and human behavior.However, in a certain way it is heir to the forms of therapy proposed by the behaviorists.

Characteristics of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Let's see what are the main characteristics of the cognitive-behavioral model.

1. Focuses on the present

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on a bio-psycho-social conception of the individual; that is, it assumes that the way people think, feel and behave is the product of a dynamic and ever-changing process involving the body's Biological predispositions and the social context in which it lives. Therefore, it does not so much look for the causes of problems in the distant past (e.g., childhood years) as in the present, the present, based on an analysis of what happens in the person's day-to-day life at that stage. in that phase of his or her life.

2. It takes into account what are known as cognitive schemas.

One of the main functions of cognitive-behavioral therapy is to achieve a sustained change for the better over time, based on the modification of the so-called "cognitive schemas". to achieve a sustained change for the better over time, based on the modification of the so-called "cognitive schemas".. These are a system of recurrent thoughts, beliefs and feelings that constitute the "circuit" of mental elements from which the person interprets what happens to him/her, and even his/her own identity as an individual. That is, it is a kind of ideological filter through which we draw conclusions about what happens in the world and in oneself.

Sometimes, the psychological problem appears, among other things, because the cognitive schema we have developed is dysfunctional, that is, it leads us to fall again and again into a series of errors. For this reason, cognitive-behavioral therapy detects this kind of problems and works on modifying the cognitive schemas, offering alternative ways of interpreting things.

3. It takes into account the power of habits.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is somewhat similar to a training programin the sense that it is not intended to achieve sudden and revolutionary changes in a single session, but rather the improvement appears gradually, through several sessions carried out periodically (in most cases, a weekly session).

This implies doing practical exercises that go beyond the theoretical, since achieving the objectives of the therapy is not based simply on thinking, but on performing a series of mental exercises that, at the same time, are linked to the physical exercises: one must interact with the environment in certain ways, participate in certain situations, etc.

In this way, it is easier for the person to transform their habits in order to self-train and consolidate the change for the better in their daily life, without the need for the professional to be present.

4. He works through both ways of intervention at the same time.

As the cognitive-behavioral model understands that the human mind is not something isolated in the head of each person, but is linked to the actions of everyday life, the way in which it proposes to address the problems is to The way it proposes to deal with problems is to act on two tracks: that of ideas and beliefs, on the one hand, and that of interaction with the world and with others, on the other hand..

This principle is embodied in the main techniques included in the cognitive-behavioral paradigm, which are explained below.

Exposure Techniques

Exposure Techniques are the most commonly used in cases of phobias, anxiety disorders and similar disorders, and consist in exposing and confronting the person to the source of fear and anxiety..

As anxiety is reduced, the person learns to manage his or her emotions, while reconfiguring his or her cognitive and thought processes, thus overcoming his or her fears.

2 Systematic Desensitization

Systematic Desensitization is another of the classic techniques in the cognitive-behavioral approach and also consists of exposing the person to the stimulus that generates anxiety or fear, but previously having incorporated and trained a series of adaptive response mechanisms that act in the opposite direction, inducing the person's fear. act in the opposite direction, inducing a state of relaxation..

In the same way, and thanks to the application of positive behaviors in front of the stimulus, anxiety is progressively reduced and eventually disappears, which causes a cognitive and emotional change in the patient.

3. Upward Arrow Technique

This is one of the techniques present in most cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions and consists of modifying the patient's thought patterns, identifying their maladaptive patterns and the influence they have on their daily life..

The mechanism used in this technique is based on asking a series of questions about the thoughts, emotions or beliefs that the person has at the present moment, and analyzing the usefulness and influence of each one of them on the reason for the consultation.

The objective of this technique is cognitive restructuring, i.e., that the person manages to eliminate negative or maladaptive thoughts that are the origin of his or her discomfort.

4. Modeling Technique

The Modeling Technique consists of the patient observes the behavior, activity or interaction he/she wants to learn in another person and takes his/her model as an example of action..

This technique can be applied live, it can be theatricalized or performed using virtual reality techniques.

5. Stress Inoculation

Stress Inoculation consists of helping the patient to understand how stress can affect him or her and then providing them with a series of cognitive and behavioral tools and strategies to cope with stressful situations and to get used to what they are afraid of.

The objective of this technique is that the person trains each of the tools offered by the therapist and learns to overcome stressful situations without getting blocked.

Are you interested in attending psychological therapy?

If you are thinking of starting a psychotherapy process, please contact us.

At Avance Psychologists we have more than two decades of experience serving people with all kinds of problems; we currently offer professional support to adults, children and adolescents, as well as family and couple therapy services, and neuropsychological and psychiatric assistance.

Bibliographical references:

• Field, T.A.; Beeson, E.T.; Jones, L.K. (2015). The New ABCs: A Practitioner's Guide to Neuroscience-Informed Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 37(3): pp. 206 - 220.
• Gratzer, D. & Khalid-Khan, F. (2016). Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy in the treatment of psychiatric illness. CMAJ, 188(4): pp. 263 - 272.
• Olivares, J. & Y Méndez, F. X. (2008). Behavior Modification Techniques. Madrid: Biblioteca nueva.
• Seligman, L. D. & Ollendick, T. H. (2011). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders in youth. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 20(2): pp. 217 - 38.