What is online cognitive behavioral therapy like?

A summary of how this modality of online psychological intervention works.

As the use of new technologies expands, so does their versatility. Fortunately, this means that, nowadays, psychotherapy is covering needs that it did not reach only 15 years ago, among other things.

Online cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the clearest examples of this phenomenon.One of the most effective and adaptable forms of psychological intervention can be used in the care of patients via video call, with very good results comparable to those of face-to-face therapy.

In this article we will see what exactly this form of psychotherapeutic intervention through the Internet consists of, and how it works.

What is cognitive-behavioral therapy?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a model of patient intervention based on the theoretical and practical foundations of behavioral therapy and cognitive psychology that emerged in the late 1960s. The ideas on which it is based are the following.

1. The psychological is divided into behavior and mental processes.

First, the cognitive-behavioral perspective distinguishes psychological phenomena into mental processes, on the one hand, and behavioral phenomena, on the other. The former have to do with cognition (the way of thinking) and emotions, and the latter comprise actions involving movement, which can be observed by other people. This division is not radical; both dimensions are connected, but have their own logics..

2. Mental processes are the cause of much of the behavior, and vice versa.

What happens in our mind has as a consequence objectifiable events that occur in our body: gestures, postures, deliberate actions, etc. Similarly, the way we behave outwardly (and the consequences this generates around us) affects how we think and feel.

3. Many problems are due to cognitive schemas

Those of us who work from the cognitive-behavioral perspective understand that part of the problems that affect the quality of life of patients are due to latent psychological aspects in the way of thinking and interpreting reality that the person has internalized. that the person has internalized, that is to say, has been learning and has made his own (usually unconsciously).

In other words, from this perspective, discomfort comes not only from sources external to the person, but also from private mental phenomena, based on something like the "internal discourse" of the individual.

4. Improving well-being involves modifying cognition and behavior.

As its name suggests, cognitive-behavioral therapy has two focuses of intervention has two focuses of interventionThe behavioral dimension, composed of the individual's actions when interacting with the environment and with those around him, and the cognitive part, made up of beliefs, thought patterns, frameworks of interpretation of reality, etc.

Fortunately, both can be addressed through online cognitive-behavioral therapy, in whose sessions patients receive both theoretical information and practical training in various psychological techniques..

5. Change is gradual and requires the generation of habits.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is no different from other psychological interventions whose efficacy has been scientifically proven in the fact that it does not promise miraculous cures in a matter of minutes or hours: changes occur on the time scale of days and weeks.

6. Therapy has a clear beginning and a clear end

Psychological intervention is not forever. Once the goals set in the first sessions are reached, the therapy ends.

How does online cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy work?

Online cognitive-behavioral therapy does not differ significantly from its face-to-face version in the psychologist's office.The only change is the channel in which communication is established: a video call in which professional and patient see and hear each other in real time. Having clarified this, let's see how it works.

During the first stage of the intervention the patient talks about his problem and gives information about what he feels, what he needs and how he lives, so that the therapist gets an idea of his characteristics and the contexts to which this person is usually exposed.

After this, the psychologist establishes a hypothesis about the person's the psychologist establishes a hypothesis about the problem(s) to be solved, creates an action plan and proposes a solution.The psychologist then creates a plan of action and proposes concrete objectives. All this is presented to the patient, who gives his or her approval before moving on to the next phase: the implementation of the behavior modification program and psychological patterns in general.

From this point on, the professional helps the patient in two ways. Firstly, it allows him/her to adopt other frameworks of thought and interpretation of reality.The first step is to train the patient to find new solutions to his or her problems and new sources of motivation, leaving behind beliefs that were acting as a ballast.

Secondly, it trains the patient in techniques that will allow him/her to develop ways of relating to the develop ways of relating to the environment that are more appropriate and that promote emotional balance.These techniques are varied and the ones to be used will depend on the patient's problems and needs.

As the weeks go by, the psychologist continues with the training, and at the same time provides support and answers questions, while motivating the patient by monitoring his or her progress. If problems arise, the psychologist can modify the plan that structures the intervention, so that the patient does not fall too far behind. Finally, when the objectives are reached, it is usually offered the possibility of more spaced sessions to ensure that a new and stable way of life has been reached, without suffering relapses or involutions.

Are you interested in receiving online psychological assistance?

If you think you could benefit from professional online support from a psychologist, please contact me. I am a psychologist specialized in the cognitive-behavioral model and I attend both in person in Madrid and via video call. You can see my contact details on this page.

Bibliographical references:

• Change, D. (2008). The Effectiveness of Telemental Health Applications. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 53: pp. 769 - 778.
• González-Peña, P., Torres, R., Del Barrio, V., & Olmedo, M. (2017). Use of technology in psychological practice in Spain. Infocop.
• Gratzer, D., & Khalid-Khan, F. (2016). Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy in the treatment of psychiatric illness. CMAJ, 188(4) pp. 263 – 272.