Contents:
- Medical Video: How Psychotherapy Works
- What is cognitive and behavioral therapy (CBT)?
- Conditions that can be treated with CBT
- Benefits of CBT therapy
- 1. Does not take too long
- 2. Prevent dependence on drugs
- 3. The technique taught can be applied alone for life
- Weaknesses of CBT therapy
- 1. Requires strong commitment and self-motivation
- 2. Less effective for those whose psychological condition is quite complicated
- 3. Only focus on individual factors in the present
Medical Video: How Psychotherapy Works
When you have a wound or suffer from a certain disease, you will definitely get a check up and seek treatment at a health center. This action has become normal and normative. So, so is the case with your psychological condition. When you experience depression, face a serious burden of life, or have a certain psychological condition, you should immediately seek help by taking psychological therapy. Psychological therapy has many kinds and is usually facilitated by a psychologist, therapist, or psychiatrist. One of the most frequently encountered psychological therapies is cognitive and behavioral therapy (CBT).
What is cognitive and behavioral therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive and behavioral therapy (hereinafter referred to as CBT) is one branch of psychotherapy that aims to change the process of thinking (cognitive) and your behavior to be better. In this therapy, the client will meet face to face with the therapist to explore the root of the problem at hand. After that, the client and therapist will work together to change the mindset and behavior of the client according to the expected target.
For example, someone who is a heavy smoker cannot escape from cigarettes, especially when stressed. In CBT, the therapist will invite the client to realize that his mindset, namely cigarettes can relieve stress, is a wrong mindset and needs to be changed. After that, clients will be trained to form positive new behaviors to replace the old harmful behavior. Instead of smoking, the client will be accustomed to light exercise and take deep breaths when stress strikes. This is done by various techniques, ranging from telling the therapist, writing a diary, or doing relaxation.
Conditions that can be treated with CBT
CBT is a powerful therapy to overcome various psychological disorders. However, this therapy should not be applied to people who have serious mental or mental development problems. Here are some examples of psychological disorders that can be treated with CBT.
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Addiction (alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, gambling, etc.)
- Phobias or psychological trauma
- Multiple personality
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia, etc.)
- Sleep disorders (insomnia, delirium, etc.)
- Stress due to work, personal relationships, and other pressures
- Grief for losing a loved one or getting divorced
Benefits of CBT therapy
CBT is a psychological therapy that is quite popular compared to other therapies. This is because CBT offers various advantages not obtained from other therapies. Here are some of the advantages.
1. Does not take too long
Compared to other therapies such as psychocytic therapy or interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive and behavioral therapy usually takes place faster. This is because CBT focuses on your current mindset and behavior. Meanwhile, other therapies usually need to explore the problems you have experienced in childhood or past events.
2. Prevent dependence on drugs
Usually the therapist will not prescribe drugs such as antidepressants, sleeping pills, or tranquilizers to help change behavior. This is because your mindset is really trained so that you can be instinctively reset, not because of medication. The results will be more pronounced in the long run. In addition, you may experience smaller side effects or dependence on drugs.
3. The technique taught can be applied alone for life
CBT has a very clear and easy to follow structure. So, even though you have finished the therapy session, you can apply the technique of changing your mindset and behavior continuously. Unlike other therapies, namely hypnotherapy or psychodynamic therapy that requires you to enter the subconscious, CBT is more practical and can be accustomed without the help of a therapist.
Weaknesses of CBT therapy
Although it is very beneficial for mental health, it does not mean that CBT is suitable for everyone. Following are some reasons why CBT is less effective for certain people.
1. Requires strong commitment and self-motivation
In this therapy, clients are required to have strong commitment and self motivation to change. Because the techniques applied in CBT are not forced. The therapist can only provide guidance and advice, but the client must realize the expected changes. The client must be willing to open up and apply the techniques taught by the therapist. If you join CBT just because you are forced by others, it is almost impossible for a client to achieve the desired results.
2. Less effective for those whose psychological condition is quite complicated
CBT cannot handle a variety of psychological disorders at once. So, it is difficult for people who have more than one psychological disorder, such as PTSD and eating disorders to achieve targeted changes. The therapist and client must focus on one problem first. However, this is difficult because usually one psychological disorder is very closely related to other disorders.
3. Only focus on individual factors in the present
Cognitive and behavioral therapy targets very specific problems, namely your own mindset and behavior at this time. In fact, sometimes external factors such as your family or social environment are very influential on the formation of your mindset and behavior. Likewise with the events that you experienced in the past. Unfortunately, these external factors are not so processed in this therapy.
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