Beck’ CBT

• The most widely used psychological treatment deriving from the cognitive approach is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• This therapy was developed by Beck and is based on his theory of depression
• CBT was intended to be relatively brief, consisting of about 16 sessions over 20 weeks
• It is an active, directive therapy that focuses on the here and now, although in The initial session, the therapist often asks for background information about the past to shed some light on current circumstances
• The therapy aims to identify and alter negative beliefs and expectation (the cognitive element) and to alter dysfunctional behaviours that are contributing to or maintaining the depression (the behavioural element)
• in doing this, the therapist employs a range of strategies