Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Counseling Approach Report

This report delves into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a counseling approach, examining its core principles and applications. It begins with an introduction to CBT, emphasizing its role in addressing mental health issues like anxiety and depression by modifying thought patterns and behaviors. The report outlines the goals of CBT, including promoting emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and self-control. It describes the role of the therapist in guiding clients through the process and highlights key techniques such as cognitive restructuring, graded exposure, and activity scheduling. Furthermore, the report discusses the expectations clients should have regarding the therapy's outcomes, such as improved emotional regulation, positive thinking, and behavioral changes. The report concludes by summarizing the effectiveness of CBT in treating various mental disorders and providing a valuable framework for understanding the therapy's application and impact.

Running head: COGNITIVE THERAPY
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Name of Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Introduction
Counseling refers to the process wherein two people meet to discuss about their personal
problems and for identifying solution to the same (American Research Journal of Addiction and
Rehabilitation.,2017). Cognitive behavioral therapy is a therapy that makes use of open
communication for solving problems by changing the way people think and behave. It is usually
used for treating mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. The main aim of the paper is
to discuss about cognitive behavioral therapy of counseling. The paper will discuss about the
concept of CBT, goals of the therapy, role played by the therapist, application of the techniques
and expectations of the client.
Discussion
Counseling theory selected: Cognitive behavioral theory
I have selected the cognitive behavioral therapy for the purpose of this study because it
includes making use of a talking therapy with which I can help people in managing their personal
problems by changing the way they think and behave (Vincent & Norton, 2018). Therefore with
the help of CBT I can help people in challenging their cognitive distortions and also helps in
improving the emotional regulation of individuals. CBT can be used for treating a number of
mental health issues such as panic disorder, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder as
various others.
Goals for the therapy
Some of the most important goal of the cognitive therapy of counseling includes-
promotion of emotional intelligence and self-awareness by helping clients in understanding their

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emotions and differentiating between healthy and unhealthy feelings. Moreover CBT helps its
patients in understanding the way distorted thoughts and perceptions lead to painful feeling,
developing individuals self-control by teaching them techniques by which they can challenge
their distorted thinking and this technique helps in changing the core belief of the individuals for
reducing emotional distress and for helping individuals in their personal growth (The
Pharmaceutical Journal., 2020). The CBT counselling also helps in reducing the symptoms
through analysis of the current situation of the client and also by solving their problems.
Role of the therapist
My role and function as a CBT therapist will include listening to the clients issues and
problems, teaching them, and encourage them and I will continually help them to learn and
implement that learning into actual practice (McMain et al., 2015). I will not try to instruct the
client rather I will try to look for their strengths and use the same for reaching them. Therefore I
will try to change the way my clients perceive the world and other things because many times it
is not the situation that causes a negative impact on individuals but the way they perceive that
situation. Therefore I will try to understand their goals and aim in life and then help them in
achieving the same by changing the way thy think.
Application of techniques
The techniques that will be used by me for treating anxiety or emotional distress of my
clients will include- cognitive restructuring, graded exposure assignment andactivity scheduling.
Cognitive restructuring technique includes- helping clients in identification of their thinking
patterns that is leading to negative thoughts in them and therefore causing anxiety or emotional
distress in them (International Journal of Cognitive Therapy., 2015). Then I will track their

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dysfunctional thoughts with the help of a thought record form and try to develop healthier
thinking patterns. I will use the graded exposure technique for helping my clients approach their
fear such that they can learn to tackle the same. Through activity scheduling I will help my
clients to engage in those activities that they should be doing more.
Expectations of the client
Through the CBT therapy, I expect my clients to be able to be properly control their
emotions and mood, a shift or change in thinking process. I expect my clients to develop positive
thinking due to the CBT therapy, I expect my clients to be able to face their fears bravely and
tackle the same appropriately instead of worrying. I expect them to develop better relationship
with others and I also expect changed behaviors (more positive behaviors) on part of my clients.
I want them to be more happy and satisfied in their lives.
Conclusion
Therefore from the above discussion, it can be concluded that cognitive behavioural
therapy plays a major role in treating different mental disorders faced by the patients by
changing their thinking and the way they used to behave. This therapy aims at broadening the
thinking of the client by making them aware of things that was not known to them previously.
Moreover from the paper, the goals of the therapy, the role of the therapist, the techniques used,
and the expectations of the client have been understood.

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References
American Research Journal of Addiction and Rehabilitation. (2017). The Efficiency of
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of Depression. American Research
Journal Of Addiction And Rehabilitation, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.21694/2578-
5508.17001
International Journal of Cognitive Therapy. (2015). International Journal of Cognitive Therapy:
Author Index to Volume 8, 2015. International Journal Of Cognitive Therapy, 8(4), 368-
371. https://doi.org/10.1521/ijct.2015.8.4.368
McMain, S., Newman, M., Segal, Z., & DeRubeis, R. (2015). Cognitive behavioral therapy:
Current status and future research directions. Psychotherapy Research, 25(3), 321-329.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2014.1002440
The Pharmaceutical Journal. (2020). Cognitive behavioural therapy: breaking the cycle. The
Pharmaceutical Journal. https://doi.org/10.1211/pj.2020.20207745
Vincent, L., & Norton, P. (2018). Predictors and consequences of sudden gains in transdiagnostic
cognitive-behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 48(4),
265-284. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2018.1513557