The Purpose of Cognitive-Behavioral Assertiveness Training

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is based on the belief that one's actions are tied to one's emotions and thoughts and looks to change patients' cognitive, emotional and behavioral habits. It also seeks to teach patients to change the ways in which they deal with problematic situations so the change lasts beyond the period of the therapy. A lack of assertiveness is an instance of behavior that can be changed with this kind of therapy.

Changing Behavior

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy seeks to change the behavior of patients to be more assertive. The therapy seeks to get the patient to notice particular behaviors, which may be habits, that are unassertive. The therapy then seeks to have the patient think of alternative, assertive actions and encourages the patient to act in this way.

Changing Emotions

• This type of therapy also aims to change feelings and emotions which lead patients to act in an unassertive manner. It aims to have the patient pay attention to the emotions that he feels in a problematic situation and to take a close look at them. Specifically, the patient would look at situations in which he does not act assertively and look at how these emotions are tied to the behavior.

Changing Thinking

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy tries to change a patient's thinking pattern to promote assertiveness. It looks to get the patient to pay attention to thoughts that arise in a situation in which he would like to act more assertively. It then encourages patients to examine these thoughts and suggests alternative thoughts that are more conducive to acting assertively.

Improving Coping Abilities

• This therapy purports not only to help patients deal with certain situations while they are in therapy, but also to give them the skills to deal with these situations in the future. This is achieved by getting patients accustomed to noticing and exploring actions, emotions and thoughts that cause them to be unassertive without the aid of a therapist.