Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that is well established in scientific research as an effective treatment for anxiety and depressive disorders. What are the key ingredients to an effective CBT session?
1) A good working relationship with the therapist/psychologist
The client and therapist need to have a relationship that is built on positive regard and trust. A client needs to feel supported, heard, and understood by the therapist.
2) Setting an agenda
At the beginning of each session, the therapist and client will discuss and build an agenda of what will be discussed in the session. The agenda will typically involve a review of last sessions homework, a discussion of current problems, goal setting, and a plan for future homework.
3) Challenging thinking or challenging behavior
During the course of the session, typically a therapist will focus on either challenging thinking, challenging behavior, or a bit of both. The therapist might identify a problematic thought. For example, if a client discloses that they think others are judging them, the therapist will gently ask questions to help the client see that the thought is not always accurate or that there may be evidence against the thought. If the client describes a pattern of avoidance, such as avoiding parties or other events out of fear of embarrassment, the therapist will challenge the client to try entering these situations to discover new evidence to support a healthier view, that people generally like them and are interested in talking to them.
4) A plan/homework to work on outside the therapy room
Clients live their lives outside of the therapy room, so it is important that they are practicing these ideas in their real world. Working together, the client and therapist develop a homework that is aligned with the treatment goals.
5) Ongoing monitoring/assessment
The client’s progress is monitored periodically, to determine the effectiveness of treatment. Self-report questionnaires and other assessment measures will be used to assess if their symptoms are decreasing and their functioning is improving. This form of ongoing assessment will also help the therapist and client to determine if, and when, sessions can end.