Cognitive Approach to treating Depression

• Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is the most commonly used psychological treatment for depression.
• CBT includes the following:

  • Cognitive restructuring - turning negative thoughts into positive thoughts
  • Keeping a journal - recording thoughts and feelings
  • Relaxation and stress reduction techniques - breathing exercises and visualisation
• CBT therapists aim to get their client to the point where they can be independent and use strategies practiced over the course of the CBT treatment. CBT takes between 5-20 sessions.
• Cognitive Therapy is the application of Becks theory of depression within a CBT framework. Clients are often set homework to record positive events, which can be used in the sessions to help them challenge irrational thoughts
• A strength of CBT is that it is one of the most popular and successful therapies for treating depression. Meaning it has good practical applications as CBT is effective in reducing symptoms of depression.
• A strength is that CBT allows the patient to develop at their own pace with the therapist tailoring the sessions to suit each individual. Thus CBT embraces, to some extent free will in its approach.
• A limitation is that CBT focuses on the 'here-and-now' so may not be appropriate for people who feel as if they need to revisit the past in order to cure their symptoms of depression. This limits the usefulness of the therapy as it may not be effective for all individuals as a treatment of depression