Depression, as the TV ad states, can hurt. It can hurt those who are depressed as well as those around them. The feeling of helplessness and hopelessness is a constant state of mind in the depressed person and can lead to other conditions as well. However, there is hope for people who are depressed. Here are some insights into how cognitive therapy can prove to be an effective technique for depression help.
The cognitive therapy approach treats the person, not the symptom. There are several ways in which this is accomplished. By addressing the pain associated with depression, the psychologist can offer alternative solutions to present-day problems. What does this mean?
When an individual is depressed, he or she views life similar to a cup that is half empty. The individual's self-esteem is at its lowest ebb, and everything is looked upon in a negative manner. The problems an individual faces when depressed can be multiplied, even though they may be minor in nature. With cognitive therapy, these problems are addressed from the outset. The problem a depressed individual is facing is sorted out based on recognition of importance.
The cognitive therapy sessions allow the depressed individual to differentiate between what is real and what is imagined. In addition, the utilization of problem-solving methods helps the individual to make positive changes, and to focus on the positive and not the negative aspects of his or her life. After all, a depressed individual's assessment of his or her life is a negative one, and thus any attempt to evaluate his or her own problems can intensify feelings of low self-worth.
With cognitive therapy, the depression is addressed head on. Behavior modifications are used to allow the individual to be able to function, cope with life's problems, and begin to understand where the depression is emanating from, as well as learning to deal with it in a more positive manner.
More importantly, the burden of blame the individual is experiencing for all life's problems are dealt with through the use of behavior modification. The belief that the individual is the cause of so much misery within is dissipated through identification and recognition of the real problem. Moreover, it allows the individual to distinguish the reality of the problem and not the perceived view that he or she is the cause of so much misery.
These distortions are focused on in cognitive therapy sessions. The psychologists give you the tools to help you change the way you think, and give you the impetus to make the necessary changes that empower you to view life in a more positive way. Thus, the depressed individual can then begin to cope with reality in a way that allows them to control any situation, and not the other way around.
Showing posts with label Cognitive Therapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cognitive Therapy. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Using Cognitive Therapy to Manage Your Anger
Learning to control our anger is something we all have to do at some point in our lives. Just about anyone has a tendency to become angry at someone or other, whether it's your boss, coworkers, spouse, or children. Sometimes we express our frustration at other drivers on the road, or even just because someone made an unconsciously annoying statement.
But when anger spirals out of control, you need to get therapy to learn to deal with it. Cognitive therapy is one approach that has shown to be very effective in handling anger management issues. It helps you to understand the causes of your anger how to react more appropriately when it arises.
Traditionally, psychotherapy involves dealing with issues from your past that might have contributed to any number of problems you are currently undergoing. Cognitive therapy, on the other hand, focuses on the present. It helps you to identify why you're thinking or reacting in certain ways in various situations, and teaches you effective techniques for changing your behavior.
Cognitive therapy helps you focus on the specific reasons for your out of control emotions. This enables you to come up with realistic approaches to changing your thought processes so you can get through life more smoothly. This is the core of cognitive therapy: problem solving and learning to change your behavior.
There is a range of methods utilized in cognitive therapy sessions, including relaxation and visualization techniques. These methods teach you to call up certain images or words in your mind to help you relax when your anger erupts. The therapist will offer various suggestions for suitable ways to react to your anger. For example, they might suggest that you look at a situation in a more positive or objective manner instead of immediately flying into a fit of rage.
There are a few ways in which therapists use these methods. First they help their patients to become more aware of their anger. Then they show them how to avoid situations in which they are likely to lose their temper. Third, they help their patients to discover the cause of their anger. Finally, they recommend a plan to change the way in which the patient reacts to others in order to avoid a situation that might lead to negative emotions.
The key to the effectiveness of cognitive therapy is that it doesn't involve the patient going on and on about all of the bad things in his life that are making him angry. Rather, the focus is on recognizing triggers and implementing coping techniques. This type of therapy is widely considered to be highly effective.
Studies are being undertaken in order to figure out what causes anger to erupt. But until scientists fully understand the problem, cognitive therapy is an effective means of managing this intense emotion. Everyone gets angry, but it's how you deal with it that will indicate whether or not you need anger management help.
But when anger spirals out of control, you need to get therapy to learn to deal with it. Cognitive therapy is one approach that has shown to be very effective in handling anger management issues. It helps you to understand the causes of your anger how to react more appropriately when it arises.
Traditionally, psychotherapy involves dealing with issues from your past that might have contributed to any number of problems you are currently undergoing. Cognitive therapy, on the other hand, focuses on the present. It helps you to identify why you're thinking or reacting in certain ways in various situations, and teaches you effective techniques for changing your behavior.
Cognitive therapy helps you focus on the specific reasons for your out of control emotions. This enables you to come up with realistic approaches to changing your thought processes so you can get through life more smoothly. This is the core of cognitive therapy: problem solving and learning to change your behavior.
There is a range of methods utilized in cognitive therapy sessions, including relaxation and visualization techniques. These methods teach you to call up certain images or words in your mind to help you relax when your anger erupts. The therapist will offer various suggestions for suitable ways to react to your anger. For example, they might suggest that you look at a situation in a more positive or objective manner instead of immediately flying into a fit of rage.
There are a few ways in which therapists use these methods. First they help their patients to become more aware of their anger. Then they show them how to avoid situations in which they are likely to lose their temper. Third, they help their patients to discover the cause of their anger. Finally, they recommend a plan to change the way in which the patient reacts to others in order to avoid a situation that might lead to negative emotions.
The key to the effectiveness of cognitive therapy is that it doesn't involve the patient going on and on about all of the bad things in his life that are making him angry. Rather, the focus is on recognizing triggers and implementing coping techniques. This type of therapy is widely considered to be highly effective.
Studies are being undertaken in order to figure out what causes anger to erupt. But until scientists fully understand the problem, cognitive therapy is an effective means of managing this intense emotion. Everyone gets angry, but it's how you deal with it that will indicate whether or not you need anger management help.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Cognitive Therapy Explained
Cognitive therapy can be explained in this way: While conventional psychotherapy entails discussing issues from the past that may have led up to the myriad of problems a person is currently dealing with, cognitive therapy focuses on the here and now.
Cognitive therapy allows for specific methods of identifying why a person is thinking a specific way or reacting to others differently, and uses techniques that can change one’s behavior.
This type of therapy also allows for individuals to focus on what it is that is causing them so much distress and to identify and evaluate, in a realistic way, how they can change the way they think in order to lead a better life. Changing behavior and problem-solving are two of the characteristics of cognitive therapy.
While conventional psychotherapy involves a long and sometimes tedious discussion about one’s past and how it led to a specific disorder, cognitive therapy affords the individual the opportunity to reflect and improve on his or her own present goals, while seeking to improve those skills that need improvement, as well as those that can be tweaked to obtain maximum balance within.
Many psychologists may operate in a similar fashion. Whether you are suffering from depression and/or anxiety, their concern is what is going on now – that is, what event or circumstance brought you to the current angst you are feeling at this moment. From there, you may be asked what areas in your life you wish to improve upon, and to document each session so that a time-line of events can be discussed each week to determine what areas of improvement can be changed or altered.
More importantly, cognitive therapy involves you and the therapist working together to resolve issues. It is not a one-sided exchange wherein you talk your heart out and the therapist just listens and takes notes.
Most therapy sessions with a psychiatrist can last several months or years (depending upon the root cause). However, cognitive therapy is specifically designed so that each individual may only need to see a therapist for a shorter period of time because the goals are set for that individual at the outset. How well the individual has met those goals determines the duration of the sessions.
The key to successful cognitive therapy sessions lies within the individual. He or she, after being given a set of goals and utilizing the tools to obtain those goals on a daily basis, finds the symptoms begin to dissipate and begins to feel quite confident that they can deal with any given situation.
Cognitive therapy allows for specific methods of identifying why a person is thinking a specific way or reacting to others differently, and uses techniques that can change one’s behavior.
This type of therapy also allows for individuals to focus on what it is that is causing them so much distress and to identify and evaluate, in a realistic way, how they can change the way they think in order to lead a better life. Changing behavior and problem-solving are two of the characteristics of cognitive therapy.
While conventional psychotherapy involves a long and sometimes tedious discussion about one’s past and how it led to a specific disorder, cognitive therapy affords the individual the opportunity to reflect and improve on his or her own present goals, while seeking to improve those skills that need improvement, as well as those that can be tweaked to obtain maximum balance within.
Many psychologists may operate in a similar fashion. Whether you are suffering from depression and/or anxiety, their concern is what is going on now – that is, what event or circumstance brought you to the current angst you are feeling at this moment. From there, you may be asked what areas in your life you wish to improve upon, and to document each session so that a time-line of events can be discussed each week to determine what areas of improvement can be changed or altered.
More importantly, cognitive therapy involves you and the therapist working together to resolve issues. It is not a one-sided exchange wherein you talk your heart out and the therapist just listens and takes notes.
Most therapy sessions with a psychiatrist can last several months or years (depending upon the root cause). However, cognitive therapy is specifically designed so that each individual may only need to see a therapist for a shorter period of time because the goals are set for that individual at the outset. How well the individual has met those goals determines the duration of the sessions.
The key to successful cognitive therapy sessions lies within the individual. He or she, after being given a set of goals and utilizing the tools to obtain those goals on a daily basis, finds the symptoms begin to dissipate and begins to feel quite confident that they can deal with any given situation.
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