CBT helps an
individual make sense of their current problems, whilst understanding the
influences of past experiences, using a diagrammatic representation or
"formulation" which directs the treatment. This formulation may be highly
individualised and more complex for severe problems, but may also include more
simple vicious cycles when looking
at what is helping to keep the problem going today.
Therapy
can be adapted according
to the nature, severity and complexity of the problem. Mild-moderate
depression and anxiety disorders for instance, can be effectively treated by
self-help books
or computerised CBT
(cCBT). Others may benefit more from
face-to-face therapy, perhaps in a group setting, or by a relatively short course of weekly
individual therapy sessions (perhaps 6-16 sessions). More complex and severe problems may require
longer term individual therapy with a skilled therapist.
Current CBT practice originated in
the 50s and 60s with Ellis (Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy), Lazarus (MultiModal
Therapy) and Beck
(Cognitive Therapy), but they build upon the earlier work of the Behaviourist
movement. The basic idea of Cognitive Therapy is perhaps not so new....Epictetus,
a stoic philosopher and ex-roman slave in the first century said, in the
Enrichidion: "Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take
of them".
Since Ellis and Beck, whilst
standard CBT has evolved somewhat, other approaches have arisen and developed,
sometimes initially for particular client groups. CBT can now include a variety of
therapeutic approaches, any of which can be incorporated into a course of
therapy, or used as stand-alone therapies:
CBT is
developing all the time, and other new approaches include Person Based Cognitive
Therapy for Psychosis, and Interacting Cognitive Subsystems.
Others are listed here
