Therapeutic Approaches

Compare and contrast behavior therapy and cognitive behavior therapy. Please address the following points:

• Key concepts/unique attributes
• Historical/contextual development of the theory (if relevant)
• Role of the therapist
• Research support for the theory
  © BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com March 21, 2019, 11:14 pm ad1c9bdddf
  https://brainmass.com/psychology/abnormal-psychology/therapeutic-approaches-450723
  Solution Preview

(1) Cognitive Therapy
Cognition is concerned with a wide range of mental processes including thoughts, perception, performance, intellectual ability, personality and intellectual ability. Cognitive behavior is associated within variables such as: memory, learning, motivation, emotions, intelligence, etc. Some of the principles underlying Cognitive therapy is that the client must take an active role in the therapeutic process. They are expected to explore the problem by identifying the distortion in thinking (Archer & McCarthy, 2007). The assumptions underlying Cognitive Therapy is the emphasis on change by influencing thinking, which can contribute to psychological problems.

(a) Historical background

The Cognitive theory developed in the 1960’s as a reaction to psychoanalysis. According to Archer & McCarthy (2007), researchers (e.g. Aaron Beck, 1976 as cited in Archer & McCarthy, 2007) developed cognitive theories because of the negativity associated with psychoanalysis. For example, Beck objected to the emphasis on the unconscious in psychoanalysis. With Ellis’s approach, cognitive strategies began to be used in conjunction with the behavioral modification approach (Archer & McCarthy, 2007). Cognitive-behavioral therapy encompasses a category of related …