Cognitive Behavioral Theories

Cognitive behavioral theories focus on how you think (cognitive) and how you can change that thinking (behavior). Cognitive behavioral therapy avoids delving into the past for answers to stress or upset. It tries to give the individual mind tools to help deal with problems in the present.

Types

• Aaron Beck's Cognitive Therapy concentrates on changing an individual's behavior by first altering the way he feels emotionally. Behavioral change will follow, say proponents of this theory. Another theory that mixes both cognitive and behavioral is Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. Albert Ellis developed the theory in 1955. It focuses on short-term therapy, designed to help people replace damaging behavior with more positive options.

Significance

• Cognitive behavioral theories are widely accepted and used by medical services. In Britain, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) gives advice on commissioning cognitive behavioral therapy for a range of conditions including depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety.

Benefits

• Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling disclosed that she had cognitive behavioral therapy to treat serious depression after the break-up of her marriage. Rowling had nine months of therapy that helped her.