Application: Applying Cognitive-Behaviorial Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on patterns of thinking, with decreased attention on patterns of behavior and emotional components of relationships. Researchers have given an enormous amount of attention to CBT and its application to a variety of individual mental health concerns, but they also have appropriated it for working with couples and, more recently, with families. Many systems purists argue that CBT is an individual-oriented theory that lacks systemic concepts necessary to conceptualize family or couple issues. In the end, you will have to make the decision as a marriage, couple, and family counselor as to whether CBT can address the relational demands of clinical work with couples and families.
Choose one video from this week’s Learning Resources to review. As you begin to formulate a theory-based treatment plan, consider how you would maintain focus on the cognitive-behavioral realm of the couples and/or families, yet attend to the emotional dynamics present in the video.
The assignment (2–3 pages)
Based on the theory demonstrated in the video you chose (cognitive-behavioral therapy with either a couple or family):
· Define the problem.
· Formulate a treatment plan including short- and long-term goals.
· Describe two theory-based interventions you would use and justify your selection.
· Explain one anticipated outcome of each.
