Clinical Applications of Cognitive Therapy

Humanism’s Revival in Third‐Wave Behaviorism

“…Third‐wave behaviorists have also shifted more toward a more practical, pragmatic truth criterion of what works over what’s real (Hayes et al, 2004). Past behaviorists have generally stressed objectivism , or the idea that truth is entirely separate from individuals as observers (Freeman, Pretzer, Fleming, & Simon, 1990; Rohmann, 1999). Thus, Skinner (1953) wrote that “if we can observe human behavior carefully from an objective point of view and come to understand it for what it is, we may be able to adopt a more sensible course of action” (p. 5).…”

Post-Structuralism in Group Theory and Practice

“…The notion stands in marked contrast to the role scripts are seen to play in cognitive psychology, where they are regarded as mental sub-routines or blueprints that tell people how to manage activities like ordering food or asking someone out on a date (Freeman et al, 1990;McMullin, 1986). Of particular note here is how these routines or blueprints are seen as preceding the action in question.…”

“…Cognitive-behaviorists define group member interaction via the structure of laws governing cognition (Bieling et al, 2006). Yet other modes of group work define the meaning of group members' interaction in terms of various structures of faulty belief systems (Freeman, Pretzer, Fleming, & Simon, 1990;Runyon, Deblinger, & Shroeder, 2009;Sharf, 2008). The upshot of these structuralist modes of practice is that words are a clear-cut, unambiguous medium not meriting of study in their own right (Palmer, 1997;Ward, 2010).…”

Insomnia

“…While it is beyond the scope of this chapter to describe those techniques in details, we will illustrate their utilization in the clinical vignettes presented below. For more information about cognitive therapy procedures, the reader can refer to other sources (Beck, J., 1995;Freeman et al, 1990;Padesky & Greenberger, 1995).…”

“…Cognitive therapy is based on the assumption that negative emotions, maladaptive behaviors, and physiological symptoms associated with psychological disorders are largely the result of dysfunctional cognitions (Freeman, Pretzer, Fleming & Simon, 1990). The term dysfunctional cognition is used to describe faulty or distorted beliefs, expectations, appraisals, or attributions.…”