Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Techniques

Kristine Goto & John J. Horan

Cognitive-behavioral therapy derives from the research protocols of hundreds of active scholars focused on a wide array of specific clinical problems. They cumulatively conclude that dysfunctional human behavior is caused or at least accompanied by irrational thinking and behavioral skill deficits; thus treatments focused on producing more reasonable thought patterns and personal-social coping skills provide the most efficient solution. To be sure, the etiology of all human disturbances may someday be traced to biological defects, but currently such views are long on theory and short on data. Moreover, even when a pharmacological intervention may be warranted, the incremental benefits of cognitive-behavioral therapy are generally conceded. At the core of cognitive-behavioral therapy lies the concept that people's interpretations of experiences are beliefs rather than facts , and as such, they may be accurate, rational, or irrational to varying degrees. The focus of cognitive-behavioral treatment rests on identifying and directly altering cognitions ...

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