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Running Head: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

CBT
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Introduction
Cognitive behavioural therapy or CBT refers to a psycho-social intervention which focuses to

develop the mental health. The aim of this therapy is changing and challenging unhelpful

cognitive behaviour and distortions, developing emotional regulations and individual coping

strategies developments which focus on solving present issues. These theories are helpful as this

can assist with anxiety, depression and wide range of different psychological issues. This

assignment will highlight its focus on different theoretical concepts of CBT and compare it with

acceptance and commitment therapy. The comparison will present the theoretical difference

between both theories and can help in emphasise basic concept of these theories.
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Task
According to Brown, et. al., (2016), psychotherapy can be refer to the use of psychological

techniques, especially when based on daily individual communication, to assist an individual

change their behaviour and overcome issues in defined ways. In this, different kinds of

treatments are provided for treating numerous mental disorders and managing mental illness.

There are numerous types of therapies which are used to relax mind and distress an individual

such as cognitive, psychoanalysis, humanistic, holistic, acceptance and commitment therapy etc.

The use of distinct therapies is used in the different conditions in order to resolve distinct cases

or issues. In the referred study, analysis of different theoretical perspectives of cognitive

behaviour therapy is comparison to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in order to analyse the

major difference as well.

Theoretical concept of CGT

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Crane (2017) argued that CBT or cognitive behaviour therapy is

a psychotherapy system which has developed from Dr. Aaron T. Beck’s understanding mental

health problems model. Key basis of this concept is that conscious assumptions, beliefs and

thoughts, are core to the development of basic disorders like depression and anxiety. Key goal of

this therapy is to change behaviour and thinking patterns which are behind difficulties of people

and so cater change in their thinking style. This is a psycho-social intervention which focuses on

to improve mental health conditions along with their attitude and physical health as well.

Origin of CBT: In 1920s, Dr. Beck was trained like a psychoanalyst who established his own

theory while validating dream theory of Dr. Sigmund Freud. According to Dr. Beck, dreams of

individuals reflect their day-time thoughts. Below is mentioned CGT therapy in illustration:
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Figure 1: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Hapenny and Fergus (2017), founded that in late 1960s, it is debated that few trials of

effectiveness of CBT were published. Dr. was able to prove that CBT is more effective therapy

and has long term effect beside other therapies or treatments. In late 1970s, ‘Cognitive Therapy

of Depression’ 1st practitioner guide appeared written by Dr. Beck along with his students (Rush,

Shaw, A.T. Beck & Emery, 1979).

The Cognitive Triad: It refers to the 3 types of negative thinking that are characteristic of person

with depression. Basically, these thoughts are associated with the future, the world and the self.

An individual with depression automatically have these forms of negative opinions as these incur

spontaneously.

Figure 2: The cognitive Triad

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It is argued that as these elements communicate, they obstruct with common cognitive procedure,

leading perception impairments, problems and memory solving with the individual becoming

obsessed with negative thinking.

Cognitive Distortions: In the opinion of Ivanova, et. al., (2016), Beck come up with several

illogical processes of thinking and thought patterns which cause depression or anxiety for a

person.

 Selective Abstraction: Aiming on individual aspects of ignoring other or avoiding

situation.

 Arbitrary interference: Creating conclusions on the grounds of irrelevant and sufficient

evidence.

 Magnification: Exaggerating significance of undesirable incidents or events.

 Minimisation: Underplaying an events’s significance.

 Overgeneralization: Creating variety of negative outcomes on the grounds of single

irrelevant incident.

 Personalisation: Attributing wrong or negative thoughts and feelings of others to oneself.

CBT Strengths:

 The models aims on human thoughts, hence this has a great appeal.

 This theory lends itself to experimenting.

 This has been proven very effective for curing depression and moderately efficient for

anxiety issues.

Limitation:

 The precise importance and role of this therapy is yet to be set or determined.

 Narrow in scope is one of the core limitations of this therapy.

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 This therapy use forceful actions sometimes under RET which is considered as an

unethical approach.

Medical Uses: In adults, this therapy has been proven effective and has a role in the anxiety

disorder treatment, depression eating issues, personality disorder substance utilisation disorder

and body dysmorphic disorders etc. Johns, wt. al., (2016) stated that in adolescents and children,

this is a major part of different treatments programs or plans including the anxiety disorder

treatment, depression and suicidality and body dysmorphic disorders, obsessive-compulsive

disorder along with trichotillomania, tic disorders and other repetitive order in behaviour. This

combined with distraction and hypnosis which decrease self-reported pain among children.

Wright, et. al., (2017) mentioned that Cognitive Behavioural therapy has been applied in non-

clinical and clinical both environments to cure disorders including behavioural problems and

personality conditions etc. In case of metastatic breast cancer, information is limited but

cognitive behavioural therapy and other interventions might assist with pain managements and

psychological results. This basically assist in preventions and maintenance of numerous disease

or disorder comprising anxiety disorders, mental illness, eating disorder, smoking cessation,

gambling addiction, internet addiction etc.

In order to examine the effectiveness and efficiency of this therapy technique, this is essential to

compare it with another therapy. For the purpose of comparison, Acceptance and Commitment

Therapy is undertaken in the report to contrast both therapies. Below is mentioned the basic

concepts of ACT therapy and how this is distinct from the CGT:

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and its comparison with CGT

ACT refers to the form of counselling and part of clinical behaviour analysis. As per the views of

van de Wal, et. al., (2017), the theory teaches individual mindfulness skills to assist people
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behave and live in ways steady with the personal values while improving psychological

flexibility. This approach was initially originated by Steven C. Hayes called comprehensive

distancing in 1982 for creating a mixed approach that integrated both behavioural and cognitive

therapy. ACT has wide variety of protocols depending on settings and target behaviour. Key

purpose of ACR is not elimination of harsh feelings but is to feel glad to everything which life

brings us and to move forward valued attribute.

Comparison: CBT was originated initially by B.F. Skinner who is called father of modern

behaviour therapy which is called as a reaction of traditional psychotherapy Freudian forms.

These forms were loosely associated with scientific principles and hard to study. Through, CBT

techniques are still being employed with the good effect in modern psychotherapy, the therapy

had its drawbacks. Twomey and O’Reilly, (2017) argued that the major drawback was that the

cognition and human language account failed to create a vigorous basic research line. On the

other side, ACT is approaching toward its thirtieth Anniversary of inceptions. This is an

innovative or creative version of cognitive and behavioural therapy which has created upon both

weaknesses and strengths of traditional CBT. Acceptance and commitment therapy is associated

with the behavioural account of cognition and human language which is filling in the limitations

of Skinner’s theories.

Pearl and Norton (2017) founded that CBT has successfully become mainstream therapy

approach, most well-known and partly strongest support of research for its impact in curing and

treating wide area of behavioural and emotional issues. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy was

found as more effective therapy in treating anxiety disorder, treating depression, reducing trauma

effect, addiction and abuse substance and complications associated to different medical situation

along with treating many other situations. CGT therapy focuses on the idea of changing the
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thoughts of problematic emotions and behaviour before the change of these behaviour and

emotions of individual. On the other hand, ACT therapy treatments focus on acceptance of the

cause of depression and change in emotions. Acceptance and commitment therapy is known as

mindfulness-based therapy which incorporates components of Buddhist mediation mindfulness

and fresh behavioural therapy methods. In the opinion of Neenan and Palmer (2018), Cognitive

behaviour therapy is envisioned like a family of developing therapy approaches that have

differing cognitive orientations and behavioural. On the other hand, ACT has been mentioned as

being part of third generation or third wave of CBT.

Therefore, above comparison between both theories present that though ACT is evolved from

CBT techniques, there is huge difference between both therapy techniques as one focus on

finding escape from problematic thoughts and one focus on embrace such thoughts and them

getting over from it. In some condition, ACT is a good technique but this is proven by the

researcher that CBT is most utilised and most effective method of curing depression, anxiety and

many disorders in medical sector.

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Conclusion

This can comprehend from the above report that cognitive behavioural therapy is mindful and

significant treatments techniques for depress, stress and anxiety patients. This is a traditional

method of treatments of depression but is still proven as paramount and useful in the modern era

as well. This is clear that there are numerous other treatments techniques such as holistic therapy

ACT etc. But the study presents the findings many therapy techniques like ACT is developed

from the CBT techniques only.

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References
Brown, M., Glendenning, A., Hoon, A. E., & John, A. (2016). Effectiveness of web-delivered

acceptance and commitment therapy in relation to mental health and well-being: a

systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of medical Internet research, 18(8).

Crane, R. (2017). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy: Distinctive features. Washington, DC:

Routledge.

Hapenny, J. E., & Fergus, T. A. (2017). Cognitive fusion, experiential avoidance, and their

interactive effect: Examining associations with thwarted belongingness and perceived

burdensomeness. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 6(1), 35-41.

Ivanova, E., Lindner, P., Ly, K. H., Dahlin, M., Vernmark, K., Andersson, G., & Carlbring, P.

(2016). Guided and unguided acceptance and commitment therapy for social anxiety

disorder and/or panic disorder provided via the Internet and a smartphone application: a

randomized controlled trial. Journal of anxiety disorders, 44, 27-35.

Johns, L. C., Oliver, J. E., Khondoker, M., Byrne, M., Jolley, S., Wykes, T., ... & Morris, E. M.

(2016). The feasibility and acceptability of a brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

(ACT) group intervention for people with psychosis: the ‘ACT for life’study. Journal of

behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry, 50, 257-263.

Neenan, M., & Palmer, S. (2018). Cognitive behavioural coaching. UK: Routledge.

Pearl, S. B., & Norton, P. J. (2017). Transdiagnostic versus diagnosis specific cognitive

behavioural therapies for anxiety: A meta-analysis. Journal of anxiety disorders, 46, 11-

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Twomey, C., & O’Reilly, G. (2017). Effectiveness of a freely available computerised cognitive

behavioural therapy programme (MoodGYM) for depression: meta-analysis. Australian

& New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 51(3), 260-269.

van de Wal, M., Thewes, B., Gielissen, M., Speckens, A., & Prins, J. (2017). Efficacy of blended

cognitive behavior therapy for high fear of recurrence in breast, prostate, and colorectal

cancer survivors: the SWORD study, a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical

Oncology, 35(19), 2173-2183.

Wright, J. H., Brown, G. K., Thase, M. E., & Basco, M. R. (2017). Learning cognitive-behavior

therapy: An illustrated guide. United States: American Psychiatric Pub.