How Is Cognitive Therapy Different From Rational Emotive Therapy?
Cognitive therapy is a form of psychological treatment that aims to alter negative thoughts and behaviors. This approach is commonly used for conditions like depression, anxiety, or chronic stress. While it’s only temporary, cognitive therapy can improve emotional wellbeing while helping you manage difficult situations better.
Cognitive therapy’s fundamental concept is that our thinking shapes our feelings and lives, making it essential to identify and challenge irrational beliefs which may contribute to poor mental health.
Psychotherapists employ a range of techniques to assist their clients in developing healthy emotions and managing stressful situations effectively. Depending on the individual’s needs, psychotherapists may use one or more methods in treating their patients.
Therapists usually set a treatment goal and collaborate with their client to reach it over several sessions. This goal should be related to an issue the client has identified at the start of therapy.
Cognitive therapy helps clients and therapists recognize and challenge negative thoughts that are making their lives difficult. They then learn how to replace these unproductive ideas with more productive ones that align with reality and the evidence of their experience.
An essential component of this approach is to systematically record and analyze the events that led up to a negative thought process or behavior. This technique, known as the four-column technique, involves documenting the objective situation, writing down any negative thoughts which emerged, then challenging these claims based on evidence from one’s personal experience.
The therapist will then assign you homework to help you apply your new beliefs and thoughts. This could include journaling about them, trying mindfulness meditation or role-playing a difficult social situation with them as the therapist.
It is essential to practice new skills and techniques prior to applying them in real-life scenarios. Doing this ensures the changes you make are beneficial, and work towards a brighter future.
Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) is a type of cognitive therapy first developed by Albert Ellis in 1955. It holds that irrational beliefs are often the root cause of problems such as anxiety and depression, but can be altered through rational thought techniques.
REBT differs from other forms of therapy in that it takes a direct approach to changing negative beliefs – sometimes even being ‘directive’. It has been said that the therapist must have the capacity to ‘force changes into their patients’ minds’, which has raised some ethical issues.
However, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an effective treatment for many mental health conditions and a helpful addition to other forms of therapy. CBT works best when the client commits to the process and takes necessary steps to overcome irrational thoughts.
