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Cognitive and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy


 

You are what you think! This sentence basically sums up the foundation of cognitive psychology and its offshoots which include mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behavior therapy or DBT. Narrative therapy where the client explores and advances their life story in the context of a supportive and insightful therapeutic relationship can also be seen as having branched off from cognitive psychology.

Cognitive psychotherapy specifically is based on the premise that how we feel is determined by what we think. In this respect, we have many thinking errors which cause us to see the world, ourselves and others in an irrationally negative way. This kind of thinking, of course, can create all kinds of unreasonable anxiety and negative moods. In therapy, we will shine the light on these irrational ways of thinking and help you create a more realistic and positive view of the world self and others.

therapy for depression - drlyleherman

Cognitive behavioral therapy adds the component of behavior to the mix. In therapy, we will discuss problematic behaviors and more positive alternative behaviors that can be added to the story of your life. This takes commitment and motivation as weekly homework assignments where new behaviors are practiced is an important part of therapy.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy brings the practice of mindful awareness of the present moment to the fore. It has been found that attending to the present moment without judgment allows access to pathways in the brain which causes oneself to be more in tune with the body and its state of being rather than the habitual thinking mode which often exacerbates anxiety, depression and other harmful states.

Mindfulness is also an important component of dialectical behavior therapy or DBT for short. It is a more active form of mindfulness however which, along with interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation and distress tolerance, are the four modules of a DBT program. Of course, regular homework is an important component of DBT. For those who are willing to stay the course, it has proved to be a very effective treatment for borderline personality disorder as well as other psychological conditions.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT for short) also includes a large helping of mindfulness. In ACT a focus on freeing oneself from the debilitating affect of one’s thoughts through mindfulness and "defusion" techniques, allows us to be more self-aware. The acceptance component is a bit harder to describe. It involves a full embrace of, and willingness to experience, our lives with all of its complexity and difficulties, especially the more difficult psychological suffering. A key idea here is that we don't get rid of our psychological suffering through avoidance but by immersing ourselves in it and going through it. The commitment of ACT involves an examination and clarification of, and commitment to, one's values. In ACT, accepting and understanding our psychological problems and committing to our values allows us to embrace a more authentic self and lead a more fulfilling life.

therapy for depression - drlyleherman

Having worked as a master's level psychotherapist for over 10 years and as a licensed psychologist for over 15 years with a combined 25 years of experience, I'm comfortable with all these modalities. So, feel free to contact me. I'd be honored to help.