Cognitive Therapies for Psychological Disorders

Key Concepts

• Cognitive therapies focus on how thoughts influence feelings and behaviors.
• Interpretation of situations, not the situations themselves, determine emotions.
  • Example: Different reactions to a roller coaster based on personal interpretation.

Cognitive Distortions

• Defined as misinterpretations or unrealistic thoughts that affect emotions and behaviors.
• Types of Cognitive Distortions
  • All or Nothing Thinking: Viewing situations in black and white terms.
    • Example: Believing you'll either ace or fail an exam, with no middle ground.
  • Thought Reading: Assuming you know what others think about you without evidence.

Cognitive Therapy Approach

• Focus on adjusting dysfunctional thoughts to reduce emotional distress.
• Techniques involve finding realistic ways to examine thoughts.
  • Asking for evidence to support negative thoughts.
  • Evaluating alternative outcomes and scenarios.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Combines cognitive therapy with behavioral strategies.
• Effective for treating anxiety and depressive disorders.
• Emphasizes evidence-based approaches.

Summary

• Cognitive therapies are crucial for understanding and changing thought patterns.
• They help in reducing symptoms of psychological disorders by tackling distorted thinking.

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Stay tuned for the next subtopic to wrap up this module.