Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Quillo A. Harley
American Military University
CHFD348- Marriage and Family Therapy
Instructor: Nancy Heath
September 18, 2011















COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is a method oI analysis that stresses the important role oI
thinking in how we Ieel and what we do. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on the idea that
our thoughts cause our Ieelings and behaviors, not external things, like people, situations, and
events. For example, a Ieeling oI insecurity is not brought on by what people do to us, but how
we Ieel about ourselves. Some people are more driven by their emotions then others.
The beneIit oI this Iact is that we can change that way we think to Ieel and act better even
iI the situation does not change. In other words, we do have complete control over our Ieelings.
The term 'cognitive-behavioral therapy is a very general term Ior a classiIication oI therapies
with similarities. Some oI the approaches include other therapies such as Rational Emotive
Behavior Therapy, Rational Behavior Therapy, Rational Living Therapy, Cognitive Therapy, and
Dialectic Behavior Therapy.
Cognitive-behavior therapy is considered among the most rapid in terms oI results
obtained. Cognitive-behavior therapy does not tell people how they should Ieel. However, most
people seeking therapy do not want to Ieel way they have been Ieeling. Cognitive behavioral
therapy allows you to view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more
eIIective way.
This type oI therapy can be a very helpIul tool in treating mental illnesses such as anxiety
or depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy can prove to be an eIIective tool to help anyone
learn how to better manage stressIul liIe situations. Cognitive behavioral therapy is useIul tool to
address emotional challenges. Therapist use this type oI therapy to manage symptoms oI mental
illness, either by itselI or with other treatments such as medications, it prevents a relapse oI
mental illness symptoms and treat a mental when medications aren`t a good option, such as
during pregnancy. Other ways this therapy can be used is to identiIy ways to manage emotions,
such as anger, resolve relationship conIlicts and learn better ways to communicate.
Cognitive behavioral therapy can also help people to cope with grieI, such as aIter the
loss oI a loved one or overcoming emotional trauma related to abuse or violence.

BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
Behavior therapy is Iocused on almost the same thing as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Its main idea is helping an individual understand how changing their behavior can lead to
changes in how they are Ieeling, most like that oI the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The goal oI
behavior therapy is usually Iocused on increasing the person`s engagement in positive or socially
reinIorcing activities. Behavior therapy is a structured approach that careIully measures what the
person is doing and then seeks to increase chances Ior positive experience.
Common techniques include: SelI-Monitoring which is the Iirst stage oI treatment. The
person is asked to keep a detailed log oI all oI their activities during the day. By examining the
list at the text session, the therapist can see exactly what the person is doing. For example, Bill,
who is being seen Ior depression, returns with his selI-monitoring list Ior the past week. His
therapist notices that it consists oI Bill going to work in the morning, returning home at 5:30 p.m.
and watching television uninterrupted until 11 p.m. and then going to bed. Schedule oI Weekly
Activities is where the patient and therapist work together to develop new activities that will
provide the patient with chances Ior positive experience.
For example, looking at his selI-monitoring sheet, Bill and his therapist determine that
watching so much television alone gives little opportunity Ior positive social interaction.
ThereIore, they decide that Bill will have dinner out with a Iriend once a week aIter work and
join a bowling league. Role Playing is used to help the person develop new skills and anticipate
issues that may come up in social interactions.
Another example is one oI the reasons that Bill stays home alone so much is that he is shy
around people. He does not know how to start a conversation with strangers. Bill and his
therapist work on this by practicing with each other on how to start a conversation. Behavior
ModiIication in explains that in this technique the patient will receive a reward Ior engaging in
positive behavior. For example, Bill wants a new Iishing rod. He and his therapist set up a
behavior modiIication contract where he will reward himselI with a new Iishing rod when he
reduces his TV watching to one hour a day and becomes involved in three new activities.
REFERENCES
aIIord J, et al. Psychological treatment oI psychiatric disorders.
http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 15, 2010.

Epp A, et al. Applications oI individual cognitive-behavioral therapy to speciIic disorders:
EIIicacy and indications. In: abbard O. Textbook oI Psychotherapeutic Treatments.
Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2009.
http://www.psychiatryonline.com/content.aspx?aID369318&searchStrcognitive-
behavioral#searchTerm. Accessed July 15, 2010.

Herkov, M. (2006). About Behavior Therapy. Psych Central. Retrieved on September 18, 2011,
Irom http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/about-behavior-therapy/