Question

One of your best friends feels that he fails at everything he does and that his life isn't worth living. When you suggest that he talk to a psychotherapist, your friend responds, “Talking won't help. The more I talk about myself, the more I think about my problems. The more I think about my problems, the more depressed I get.” Explain why your friend's comment illustrates his need for cognitive therapy. What procedures would a cognitive therapist use to help your friend overcome his negative feelings?

Answer 1

My friend's comment illustrates his need for cognitive therapy as his thought such as his life isn't worth living are making him depressed. The basic idea on which CBT techniques revolve is that; there are no external factors but inherent ones that are responsible for the behavior behind the feelings we experience and exhibit; thus our thoughts guide our behavioral patterns. The cognitive rehearsal i.e. the therapist asking the patient to rehearse positive thoughts in the mind; as rehearsing of the positive thoughts may help in making appropriate changes to the patient's thought processes. The power of imagination may prove to be of great help when he or she is doing such type of exercises. Thus a rehearsal of a change in the thinking of the client can be helpful.