Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Role of primary care in the diagnosis of depression
January 12, 2023Professor and fellow classmates-
January 12, 2023Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Description
Apa Format
2 paragraphs for each student response
4 paragraphs total
3 credible references each
Directions: Respond to at least two of your colleagues by recommending strategies to overcome the challenges your colleagues have identified. Support your recommendation with evidence-based literature and/or your own experiences with clients
Student #1
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on exploring relationships among client’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and works to alter these behaviors and emotions by changing their negative cognitive processes (Wheeler, 2014). In family settings, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is infused with theory-adapted principles and interventions, and the setting is smaller than group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
Family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is short, solution-based, and focused on supporting participants to act and think more adaptively, along with learning to make better choices to build a friendly, calmer family atmosphere (Nichols, 2014).
The group setting mostly consisting of strangers with a similar issue, including but not limited to, various mental disorders, and the CBT goal here is to aid each member of the group in coping more effectively with their issues (Wheeler, 2014).
A downfall of family cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is that there is less time to create treatment plans that are uniquely tailored to meet the family’s individualized needs (Landa et al., 2016).
During my practicum experience, cognitive behavioral therapy sessions have been conducted for trauma-focused groups. Clients who participated in the group therapy were victims of sexual or physical abuse in childhood with PTSD diagnosis and/or depression. CBGT focused on using each client’s thoughts, feelings and experiences to teach new thinking skills for topics such as anger management, stress management, and effective communication.
A challenge that commonly occurs within CBGT group therapy is having to balance attention to group relationships with the need to teach certain principles and associated techniques (Yalom & Leszcz, 2005). Another challenge is being aware of each client’s needs and areas of improvement. Nurse practitioners should be able to attend to more than one client’s thoughts and feelings.
Student #2Discussion Week 8
Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) is an approach inspired by Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck that highlights the need for attitude change to promote and increase behavior modification (Nichols & Davis, 2020). CBT takes a more expansive approach when dealing with family interactions (Nichols & Davis, 2020). The purpose of this discussion post is to explain the use of CBT in groups compared to family settings, describe two challenges counselors might have when using CBT in a group setting, and use examples from my practicum experience.
CBT in Groups Compared to Family Settings
The CBT therapist in a family setting has the opportunity to observe how family members interact with one another and how they think about their problems (Nichols & Davis, 2020). In a CBT group setting, often the group is more interactional and self-directed, and less leader centered (Yalom & Leszcz, 2005). Cognitive-behavioral family therapy assumes that family members are influenced by other family members and that behaviors, emotions, and cognitions can trigger one another (Nichols & Davis, 2020). Cognitive-behavioral group therapy is usually assembled by individuals who are eligible and cognitively able to participate in group therapy and, therefore, group members are not typically influenced by other group members (Yalom & Leszcz, 2005). Similarly, both group and family therapies are both focused on cognition and behavior with individuals, and behavior is maintained by its consequences (Nichols & Davis, 2020). In my own experience, I have seen that in group therapy, participants are more anxious and shy at first to speak about issues. In family therapy, I have seen that many family members are sometimes talking over one another because they want to talk immediately. I have experienced the difference in the way a therapist handles a group setting versus a family setting. In group CBT, the therapist is less hands-on and helps with the flow of conversation, where in family CBT, the therapist, is more active in helping members facilitate emotions.
Two Challenges that Counselors Face in Group CBT
One challenge that therapists face is that once an individual attends a group session, the challenge can be for them to stay in the group (Sochting, 2014). Drop-out rates for group CBT can be as high as twenty percent for clients with depression and thirty to fifty percent for clients with anxiety (Sochting, 2014). More than one drop out in a group can disrupt group solidarity, and inconsistent group members can create an insecure environment within a group setting (Sochting, 2014). It can also be challenging to the counselor because they try to create cohesiveness in the group, but it makes it difficult when members drop-out or are inconsistent (Sochting, 2014). Often in group therapy, the therapist offers group expectations and outcomes; however, many times, this leaves clients with high expectations in the initial beginning part of therapy but not mid-way through the group (Sochting, 2014). According to Sochting (2014), this is related to the possibility of unrealistic high expectations and that clients might experience a more realistic perspective about what therapy can and cannot provide.
Summary
Overall, group and family CBT has differences and some similarities. Group CBT faces two challenges, one drop-out rates and also high expectations. In the end, CBT has been effective for groups and families and can bring hope and healing to each.
