Topic: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Family Settings Versus Individual Settings

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: !1

Running head: COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY: FAMILY SETTINGS

SAMPLE PAPER

NEED INTRODUCTION WITH PURPOSE STATEMENT

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Family Settings versus Individual Settings

Cognitive-behavior therapy inspired by Albert Ellis (1962) and Aaron Beck (1976)

emphasize attitude change to promote and maintain behavior modification. The rationale behind

this approach is the belief that actions are mediated by specific cognition. Understanding these

cognitions will make it possible to identify factors that trigger and maintain dysfunctional

emotional and behavioral patterns. Cognitions, emotions, and behavior are seen as exerting

mutual influence on one another so that a cognitive inference can evoke emotion

Individual CBT and family or group CBT have both been shown to be effective

treatments of psychiatric disorders, and they have yielded similar success rates (Priemer, M., &

Talbot, F. 2013). In a 2008 study, more children were free of anxiety disorders (53%) in the

individual CBT compared with family CBT therapy (28%), however, at 3-month follow-up, the

superior effect of individual CBT was no longer significant. The authors also concluded that

younger children had better outcomes than older children, regardless of the treatment condition

(Priemer, M., & Talbot, F. 2013).

Individual CBT makes it possible to tailor a treatment plan (Kendall & Hedtke, 2006) to

each client but time-consuming. These sessions involves the therapists listening to the client to

figure out the cognition; the therapist will have to analyze the clients body language and

determine if he has enough information or he needs to probe further. On the other hand, family

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: !2

therapy involves information from various sources and perspective (Priemer, M., & Talbot, F.

2013). It will make it easier for the therapist to define a pattern and see the family dynamics in

action.

There may also be instances where one therapy approach would be more suitable than the

other; not all situations would benefit from family therapy (Nichols, M. (2014). A simple

example to illustrate this is the experience of a divorced couple; this may lead each partner to

assume they are incapable of having another meaningful relationship. They may develop a

feeling hopelessness and depression ultimately they may stop going out and meeting new people.

These individuals may benefit from individual therapy since they are already withdrawn and not

willing to mix. My preceptor introduced me to a case he has been working on for more than 3

months. The 23-year-old Caucasian BT was admitted for drug rehabilitation. She was very rude

and intolerant to facility staff. She would only comply with instructions she want and would

simply ignore others.

She was not making progress; preceptor decided to invite the parents to participate in one

of her sessions because he suspected they have been reinforcing her behavior after he noticed

some candies and medications in her room. It turned out that the parents have been trying to

make her go through the counseling and agreeing to her demand because according to her, she

would “escape” if they don’t give her what she needs. They have been reinforcing her negative

and combative attitude because they thought it would help. This approach entails the assessment

of behavioral parent reinforcement or training.

My preceptor agreed with the parents to reduce frequency of visits and stop them from

coming in with their bags during visits so that they no longer bring treats for her when they visit.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: !3

He also put her on a closer monitoring. These are disciplinary techniques; they are recommended

to reinforce positive behavior. For preadolescent children, the most widely used punishment is

time-out - removal to a boring place for five minutes. If the child continues to refuse, a privilege

is removed. When parents are consistent, children soon learn to go to time-out rather than lose

the opportunity to watch TV or use the computer. Other techniques used to decelerate behavior

include verbal reprimand and ignoring (Nichols, M. (2014).

NEED CONCLUSION

Reference

Bodden, Denise H.M. et al. (2008) Child Versus Family Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in

Clinically Anxious Youth: An Efficacy and Partial Effectiveness Study. Journal of the American

Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 47; 12 , 1384 – 1394

Nichols, M. (2014). The essentials of family therapy (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Priemer, M., & Talbot, F. (2013). CBT Guided Self-Help Compares Favourably to Gold

Standard Therapist-Administered CBT and Shows Unique Benefits Over Traditional Treatment.

Behavior Change, 30(04), 227-240. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/bec.2013.22

Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A

how-to guide for evidence-based practice. New York, NY: Springer.