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Block 2 Unit 2 Behavioural Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Approaches to Counselling

1. What is Behaviour Therapy? Give a brief outline of its history.

• Behaviour therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on observable behaviours and aims to change maladaptive actions through learning principles. It is based on the idea that behaviours are learned and can be unlearned.
• Brief History:
  • It emerged in the early 20th century as a reaction to the method of introspection.
  • John B. Watson, considered the father of behaviourism, initially studied animal psychology.
  • In the 1960s, behaviour approaches became a significant departure from psychoanalytic and humanistic therapies.
  • Behaviour therapists argued that psychology should only concern itself with publicly observable phenomena, not mental content, which they believed could not be studied scientifically.

2. What is modelling, and how can it be used in treating psychological problems?

• Modelling is a technique where a client learns by observing and imitating the behaviours of a therapist or another person.
• Use in Treating Psychological Problems:
  • The therapist can act as a role model for the patient, demonstrating appropriate responses to difficult situations.
  • It helps patients learn new, more adaptive behaviours by observing how others handle situations.
  • It is particularly useful in assertiveness training where the therapist models assertive behaviour, which is then imitated by the client.
  • For example, a therapist might demonstrate how to refuse a request or make a complaint effectively.

3. Write a note on Exposure as an extinction approach.

• Exposure therapy is a technique used to reduce anxiety by exposing an individual to the source of their fear. It is based on the principles of classical conditioning and extinction.
• Extinction Approach:
  • It works by repeatedly exposing the client to the feared stimulus without any negative consequences, which can weaken the association between the stimulus and fear response.
  • Through repeated exposure, the fear response is gradually reduced and extinguished.
  • This can be done gradually, starting with less anxiety-provoking situations, and working up to more intense situations. This is known as systematic desensitisation.

4. Construct a hierarchy of fear arousing situation of any animal.

• A hierarchy of fear-arousing situations involves ranking situations from least anxiety-provoking to most anxiety-provoking. This is used in systematic desensitisation to gradually expose someone to their fears.
• Here's an example hierarchy for someone with a fear of dogs (cynophobia):
  • Looking at a picture of a cartoon dog (least anxiety-provoking)
  • Looking at a picture of a real dog.
  • Watching a video of a dog.
  • Hearing a dog barking in the distance.
  • Seeing a dog in a cage across the street.
  • Seeing a dog on a leash with its owner.
  • Being in the same room as a dog on a leash.
  • Petting a small, calm dog (most anxiety-provoking).

5. Define CBT and discuss the levels of cognitions.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that emphasises the role of thinking in how we feel and act. It combines both cognitive therapy (focusing on thoughts and beliefs) and behavioural therapy (focusing on actions).
• It helps patients understand that the way they think directly influences how they feel and behave.
• Levels of Cognition:
  • Automatic thoughts: These are recurring thoughts that come to mind habitually, not as a result of deliberate thinking.
  • Assumptions/Rules: These are underlying assumptions and rules that shape how a person processes information and responds to events, which can be functional or dysfunctional.
  • Core beliefs: These are fundamental beliefs about oneself, others, and the world. These are deeply held and often unconscious and are the hardest to change.

6. According to CBT, What is the primary cause of mental disorders?

• According to CBT, the primary cause of mental disorders is maladaptive thought processes. CBT posits that anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions stem from distorted thinking patterns rather than directly from situations or events.
• It is based on the assumption that negative beliefs lead to maladaptive behaviours, and by examining and challenging these beliefs, new, healthier behaviours can develop.

7. Explain the hierarchical structure of A-B-C model of CBT.

• The ABC model in CBT explains the relationship between events, thoughts, and feelings. It's a structured way to examine how we react to life events.
• Hierarchical Structure:
  • A - Activating Event (Trigger): An external event that initiates the sequence.
  • B - Beliefs: Thoughts that occur in response to the activating event. These can be rational or irrational, accurate or distorted.
  • C - Consequences: Emotional and behavioural reactions resulting from the beliefs.
  • The model highlights that it's not the event itself, but rather our beliefs about the event that cause our emotional and behavioural responses. The model can be expanded to an ABCDE model, where D is for disputation and E is for the effect of the new, more rational belief.
• The Core Assumption: at the base level. This assumption is held in the subconcious mind and generates beliefs that can be true or false. The core assumption needs to be uncovered to have true freedom from the shackles of negative thinking.