Critical Evaluation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy's Effectiveness

This report critically evaluates the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in counselling, focusing on its application in addressing mental health issues like depression and anxiety. The report begins with an introduction to counselling and the prevalence of mental health challenges,...Read More

Introduction to Theories of
Counselling Assessment 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUICTION..........................................................................................................................2
MAINBODY...................................................................................................................................2
Critical discussion the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).............................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUICTION
Counselling is the procedure of supporting and guiding clients, especially by the number
of trained people on a professionalism way to resolve personal, psychological or social issues
and difficulties. Counselors supports individual to address their issues in a positive manner by
assisting them to define problems, explore options, develop and implement strategies or tactics
and enhance self-awareness (Hinton and Patel, 2017). In modern world, most of the people are
suffering from depression in that stage they unable to deal with their personal and social issues
then they prefer to meet with counselors who guides them to maintain their mental state and
encourages them to live their life happily like others. Estimated 19.2% (almost one in five adults)
were experiencing some form of depression that denotes by moderate to severe depressive
symptoms during the coronavirus pandemic. In this report will critically evaluate effectiveness of
CBT with the support of literature review.
MAINBODY
Critical discussion the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
According to Waller and et.al., (2018), most of the people are experiencing depression
phase in UK, but they do not know what is the reason behind that. So, they prefer to meet with
counselor’s because they support such people by clarifying, exploring their issues. Thus,
counselor’s assists them to live their normally. However, counselling process is professionally
planned, well-structured dialogue between a client and a counsellor. It is a cooperative procedure
in which a highly skilled and trained professionals supports client to determine sources of
difficulties.
Stefan and et.al., (2019) stated in Books about the cognitive behavioral theory (CBT) that
Cognitive/behavioural theory are combined into a specific term i.e. cognitive behavioural
therapy (CBT). It is a psycho-social intervention that goals to improve the mental health. This
psychological theory is mainly focusing on challenges and changes unsupportive cognitive
distortion and behaviours and develops personal coping tactics that targets in solving current
issues. Cognitive behavioural theory is a type of talking theory that supports counsellor to
understand actual issue of individuals who are facing depression state. With the support of this

theory, counsellor can support client to manage the issue by changing the way that they think and
behave. In addition, it is not only used for treating anxiety and depression but also it can support
to deal with physical and mental health problems. This theory focuses on client’s current issue
instead of focusing on issues from their past. In modern world, most of the counsellors are using
this CBT because it is an effective way of treating a number of different mental health situations
such as bipolar disorder, post-traumatic disorder, schizophrenia, insomnia, alcoholic misuse.
This theory also uses to treat long-term health conditions i.e. chronic fatigue syndrome,
fibromyalgia etc. there are lots of advantage of cognitive behavioural therapy such as it can be
more effective as medicine in treating physical situations like low back pain as well as mental
health issue i.e. depression. This therapy can be completed in a relative short span of time as
compared with other types of talking therapies. The main goal of the cognitive behavioural
therapy to understand the point whereas it can tackle the issue without a therapist within a
specific number of sessions. It is one of the most common used form of psychotherapy. It is a
well-structured and goal-oriented approach that is used to treat different types of behavioural,
emotional and psychiatric issues. CBT is considered as effective as medication and can also
increase the effect of medication to treat anxiety and depression. Therapists works with the
person and supports them to learn or relearn skills and habits that are completely constructive
which in exchange supports them face life situation in a way.
Kamil, Qureshi and Patel, (2019) have quoted in their published research papers that
CBT is a type of psychotherapy which has become important part of psychology. It focuses on
exploring relationship among person’s feelings, thoughts and behaviours. In the therapy,
therapist works with a person to uncover unhealthy pattern of the thought. However, this therapy
was originally proposed as talk therapy for depression, but now it can be widely applied in other
situations. From past few years, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is used by the counsellors
to support cancer patients by increasing their levels of cognitive functions. It is also used to treat
anxiety, especially anxiety among youths. There are various benefits of cognitive behavioural
therapy (CBT) such as it supports a person that can openly speak about their hidden feelings,
emotions and thoughts. This therapy is compatible with wide range of other psychiatric
treatments, which a patient receives as a supportive counselling or medication. The person is
proactively involved in the therapy and that motivates them to continue. The person can
implement this learning to numerous life situations. The main objective of CBT is to active and

goal-oriented therapy that supports people to learn these skills such as analyse their emotions and
determine between healthy and unhealthy feelings. This therapy also enhances their emotional-
regulation and self-awareness. It also helps in changing core beliefs that are main causes for
suffering and thereby prevents future episodes of emotional distress.
As per the view of Mohr and et.al., (2019) it is a structured and time-limited therapy that
involves different types of strategies such as, as a first step, the therapist conducts a thorough
assessment. In this assessment, counsellor asks about the past experience and medical history
from the patient to effectively understand the nature of difficulties so that they can understand
creative solutions. The therapists explain how long it may depend on various factors such as the
complexity of the issue, the therapist’s availability for sessions and encourages patients to
participates in the assessment and completing the assignment on time. Therapists teaches the
person about the nature of the symptoms like physiological basis of anxiety, differ from severe
situations i.e. heart attack. Then therapists discuss about treatment plan containing goals and the
way to supervise the progress. Once this session is completed, then therapists and person work
together in determining faulty or negative pattern of thinking and evaluating person’s behaviour
in daily life. There are various activities that involves during this therapy such as therapists
provides training session to the client in which make them learns how to aware of automatic
negative thinking. Clients also learns to create alternative ways of thinking, majorly rationale and
constructive. In the CBT session, therapists learn clients how to copy skills to mange the life
stressors. Then, clients keep a diary and record all negative thoughts and situation in which stress
arises. Assignments also gives by therapists in the session to client which is required to complete
by the client at their homes to practice and implement these learning in their real-life activities.
Therapists also evaluates sessions daily basis to check that client has benefits or change
strategies are required to bring improvement in clients. The CBT is considered superior for the
for generalized anxiety disorder rather then to control pill placebo condition and it is equally
efficacious as relaxation therapy and quite supportive therapy. Traditional CBT treatment needs
weekly 30 to 60 minutes sessions over the 12 to 20 weeks. In these weeks, therapists support
clients to live their life in normal manner with happiness.
Illustrated by Van Door and et.al., (2017), over the las few decades, this therapy has
moved towards the evidence-based practice. There are many therapists across global have

increased adoption of cognitive behavioural therapy as compared other available methods of
treatment such as behaviourism, psychodynamic theory, cognitive and humanistic theory.
Psychodynamic approach involves all theories in the psychology that observe human functioning
based on the interaction and it emphasizes on unconscious psychological process. While
behavioural approach to counselling always focuses on the assumption that the environment
identifies an individual’s behaviour. On the other hand, cognitive counselling theory holds such
people, who experiences psychological and emotional difficulties when their thinking is out of
the beyond with reality. In last, humanistic theory of counselling is a mental health approach that
emphasizes the significance of being true self in order to live most fulfilling life. But these
theories are not much level effective as CBT have. So, it is adopting by number of therapists
across the world to treat clients with the anxiety or mental disorders.
Reid, Avens and Walf, (2017) have criticized over proposed cognitive behavioural theory
in their published books that there are some issues with CBT such as counsellor can advise the
client but cannot root out issue permanently. This therapy is not suitable for those people who
are suffering with more complex mental health needs or learning difficulties. The reason behind
is that it is too structured. CBT focuses only current issue; it cannot address the possible
underlying causes of mental health condition i.e. unhappy childhood. The main focus of CBT is
to change thinking of patient instead of looking over the impact of other factors on the health and
wellbeing. It is one of the biggest issues with the cognitive and behavioural theory of
counselling. This therapy is less efficacious for severe generalized anxiety disorder symptoms.
During this therapy, therapists have to conducts 30 to 60-minute sessions weekly within 2 to 3
weeks so it become quite complicated for the therapists to evaluate all session effectively. In
addition, it is one of the most important things for the therapy that clients must engage with all
activities which are conducted by the therapists in the session because when patient will
cooperate then therapists can support them to change their negative thoughts into positive one.
But, in most of the cases, therapists become fail to treat the client with the CBT therapy because
clients often are not cooperative nature.
Li and et.al., (2018) said in Books that CBT may support the client, to share their views
to the therapists for advice because it is a talking therapy. It supports clients to manage their own
issues by changing the way of thinking but it cannot cure physical issues like low back pain but it

can support them effectively. It is one of the major drawbacks of the CBT therapy. It is not
suitable for all people with more complex mental health needs or learning complications because
it is structured and time-consuming therapy. It supports therapists to address only current issues
of clients and focuses on them specifically but it does not address the underlying possible causes
of mental health conditions i.e. unhappy childhood. It is mainly focussing on leading change in
clients thinking but does not look the impact of other factors on their wellbeing and health. This
CBT therapy is bit costly as compared other available theories because it contains 10 session that
takes time around 20-30 minutes weekly. So, clients have to pay extra to them.
CONCLUSION
It has been summarized from the above discussion about effectiveness of cognitive
behavioural therapy is that it is taking therapy that has goal to lead change in the client’s thinking
with the mental disorders so that they can live their life happily. There are various people across
the world who is suffering from the types of mental disorders like anxiety, depression, post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias and eating disorder whereas this cognitive behavioural
therapy act as medication for such clients (Radziwon and Lackner, 2017). This report has been
concluded different perspectives of different authors about effectiveness of cognitive behavioural
therapy through which it can be summarized that therapists requires to develop their own skills
and must interrogate with clients about their past and present then they can creatively raise the
solutions of the different client’s issues. Overall, cognitive behavioural therapy requires to
develop bit more then therapists can bring effectiveness of therapy on their clients who are
suffering from types of mental conditions.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Waller, G and et.al., 2018. A 10‐session cognitive‐behavioral therapy (CBT‐T) for eating
disorders: Outcomes from a case series of nonunderweight adult patients. International
Journal of Eating Disorders, 51(3), pp.262-269.
Stefan, S and et.al., 2019. Cognitive‐behavioral therapy (CBT) for generalized anxiety disorder:
Contrasting various CBT approaches in a randomized clinical trial. Journal of clinical
psychology, 75(7), pp.1188-1202.
Kamil, S.H., Qureshi, M. and Patel, R.S., 2019. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in
psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES): a case report and literature
review. Behavioral Sciences, 9(2), p.15.
Mohr, D.C and et.al., 2019. A randomized noninferiority trial evaluating remotely-delivered
stepped care for depression using internet cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and
telephone CBT. Behaviour research and therapy, 123, p.103485.
Van Doorn, M.E.M and et.al., 2017. A randomized controlled effectiveness study comparing
manualized cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with treatment‐as‐usual for clinically
anxious children. Journal of Clinical Trials, 7(5), pp.2167-0870.
Reid, L.D., Avens, F.E. and Walf, A.A., 2017. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for
preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Behavioural Brain Research, 334, pp.163-177.
Li, J.M and et.al., 2018. Cognitive behavioral therapy for treatment-resistant depression: A
systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry research, 268, pp.243-250.
Radziwon, C.D. and Lackner, J.M., 2017. Cognitive behavioral therapy for IBS: how useful, how
often, and how does it work?. Current gastroenterology reports, 19(10), p.49.
Hinton, D.E. and Patel, A., 2017. Cultural adaptations of cognitive behavioral
therapy. Psychiatric Clinics, 40(4), pp.701-714.