Master of Social Science

(Counselling Studies)

Counseling Theories
Chapter 10
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Introduction
Cognitive and behavioral principle and
methods in a short-term treatment
approach.

Approaches are based on a structured

psychoeducational model.

Assumption that a reorganization of

one’s self-statements will result in a
corresponding reorganization of one’s
behavior.
Rational Emotive Behavior
Therapy

Stress thinking, judging, deciding, analyzing

and doing.

People contribute to their own psychological

problems.

Cognitions, emotions and behaviors interact

significantly and have a reciprocal cause-and-
effect relationship.
Rational Emotive Behavior
Therapy

Emotions stem mainly from our beliefs,

evaluations, interpretations and reactions to
life situations.

Therapeutic implications :
• Focus on thinking and acting
• Therapy is seen as an educational process
Rational Emotive Behavior
Therapy

Key Concepts

Help them accept themselves as creatures

who will continue to make mistakes yet at the
same time learn to live more at peace with
themselves.

It attempts to help them find ways of

overcoming unhealthy feelings or depression,
anxiety, hurt, loss of self-worth and hatred.
Rational Emotive Behavior
Therapy

A-B-C Theory of Personality

 A - Activating event
 B - Belief
 C - Emotional and behavioral consequence
 D - Disputing intervention
 E - Effect
 F - New feelings
Rational Emotive Behavior
Therapy
The Therapeutic Process

How to accept themselves in spite of their

imperfections.

Achieving unconditional self-acceptance and

unconditional other acceptance and to see
how these are interrelated.
Rational Emotive Behavior
Therapy

Therapist’s Function and Role

Clients learn to change their rigid “must” into

preference.

Keep their emotional disturbances active by continuing

to think illogically and unrealistically.

Help clients to modify their thinking and abandon their

irrational ideas.

Challenge clients to develop a rational philosophy of life.

Rational Emotive Behavior
Therapy

Client’s Experience in Therapy

Client’s role is a learner and doer.

Psychotherapy is viewed as a reeducative

process.

Emphasize here-and-how experience and

clients’ present ability to change the patterns
of thinking and emoting that they constructed
earlier.
Rational Emotive Behavior
Therapy
Relationship Between Therapist and Clients

Intense relationship between therapist and client is

not required.

Practitioners accept their clients as imperfect

beings who can be helped by showing their
therapist cares of them without babying them and
by also using a variety of techniques such as
teaching, bibliotherapy and behavior modification.

Therapist are often open and direct in disclosing

their own beliefs and values. Transference is not
encouraged.