Evidence-based Practice of Cognitive-behavioral Therapy:The Therapy Everyone Believes and Needs

By Diane B. Watkins 4 years ago
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In today’s situation, people are getting stress and anxiety attacks. It may be personal, work-related or even hereditary. The way we react to these concerns matters a lot on how we can overcome them. But not all people have the ability to calm their emotions. Therefore, they end up asking for professional help. For some people, it’s not that easy to accept that they need it. They need confirmation from other people before they could decide to take the therapy they need.

Evidence-based practice of cognitive-behavioral therapy by Dr. Tory Tomassetti can help people who are in doubt if therapy really works. The Association of Psychologists has spent years learning people’s behavior as well as cases of behavioral issues. Through these studies, they are able to establish patterns that they can use in applying therapy to each of their patients. 

People’s behavior is hard to study by just merely basing it on theories. So, Psychologists come up with what they call psychotherapy. Each patient’s cases are recorded and treatments are jotted down. These treatments are then used in other people with similar cases. Behavioral issues vary from person to person, so each requires a treatment that would suit their needs. 

Components of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 

Cognitive Therapy

Negative emotions often are results of too much thinking on uncertainty of things. Such emotions can lead to depression. In cognitive therapy they teach people to balance their emotions and avoid too much thinking. This approach is also known as cognitive restructuring. In this method, patients are taught to think more based on reality instead of being pessimistic on things and situations. This therapy is effective for anxiety, depression, eating disorder, panic attacks and bipolar disorder.

Behavioral Therapy 

In this kind of therapy, problematic behaviors are identified and problems are analyzed. The strategy on this kind of therapy is replacing ineffective behavior with effective ones. 

Types of behavioral therapy

  1. Cognitive behavioral therapy

This therapy focuses on the patient’s present problems and how to solve them. The main goal of this kind of therapy is to change the pattern of  behavior and thinking of a person to a healthier one. 

  1. Cognitive behavioral play therapy 

This therapy is usually practiced with children. Children are observed to gain insights on what are the things they are uncomfortable to express. Therapist then teaches parents on how to use playing as a means to improve their communication with their children.  

  1. System desensitization

This therapy is often used on phobias. Therapists coach patients on how to respond fear to relaxation response instead. Breathing technique is recommended on this kind of therapy to help patients calm down.

  1. Aversion Therapy

For alcoholism and substance abuse, this method is advisable. In this kind of therapy they would associate the stimulus to something unpleasant. By putting this in mind, the patient can avoid their addiction until eventually overcomes it. For instance, they would associate alcohol to an embarrassing moment that happened to the patient. This can motivate the patient to abstain from alcohol to avoid such a situation to occur again. 

Mindfulness-based Therapy 

This is a meditation technique that aims to let the patient focus on the present. It is patterned from a buddhism practice. Focusing tasks at hand can help the patient concentrate on the present situation rather than thinking about the part of the future. In studies it is proven that it can create actual changes to the brain. For instance, it can aid in reducing cortical thinning which causes dementia among aging people. Mindfulness on anxiety and depression can result in an increase in ability to be aware of feelings and thoughts without judging or getting attached to people or situations. 

With all these available evidence-based practices of cognitive-behavioral therapy, different types of people can choose which one fits them the most. It is also helpful for people who have behavioral issues to be willing to accept it. By doing so they can be open to undergoing therapy for their own benefit and growth as well as for the benefits of people they love.

It’s never easy to control emotions especially if under anxiety or depression. But putting in mind that professional help is just around the corner can help people know that they can have a better life ahead. All they need to do is to start having therapy and commit to do so until they are a better version of themselves.