Question

Summarize the goals of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and contrast it with the psychodynamic approach.

Answer 1

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a short-term therapy aimed at helping patients identify patterns that cause negative thinking and behaviors that lead to problems. It attempts to identify specific undesirable behavioural and thought patterns and replace them with healthy and productive alternatives. On the other hand, psychoanalysis is a long term therapy that aims at bringing unconscious behavioral patterns to the surface, gaining awareness and identifying how they influence behaviour. The ultimate goal here is insight or awareness of one’s conflicts and an acceptance of the same.