Discussion: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Whether used with individuals or families, the goal of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is to modify client behavior. Although CBT for families is similar to CBT for individuals, there are significant differences in their applications. As you develop treatment plans, it is important that you recognize these differences and how they may impact your therapeutic approach with families. For this Discussion, as you compare the use of CBT for families and individuals, consider challenges of applying this therapeutic approach to your own client families. Learning Objectives Students will: •Compare the use of cognitive behavioral therapy for families to cognitive behavioral therapy for individuals •Analyze challenges of using cognitive behavioral therapy for families •Recommend effective cognitive behavioral therapy strategies for families To prepare: •Review the media, Johnson Family Session 3, in this week’s Learning Resources and consider the insights provided on CBT in family therapy. •Reflect on your practicum experiences with CBT in family and individual settings. Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the Post to Discussion Question link and then select Create Thread to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking Submit! By Day 3 Post an explanation of how the use of CBT in families compares to CBT in individual settings. Provide specific examples from your own practicum experiences. Then, explain challenges counselors might encounter when using CBT in the family setting. Support your position with specific examples from this week’s media Discussion: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Family Settings versus Individual Settings
One of the most effective approaches that is widely applied in the management of mental health disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy. With foundations from behavioral theory and cognitive social learning theory which focus on classical conditioning and observational learning, CBT helps healthcare providers to understand the role of cognition to determine behavior. To add on, CBT also utilizes the cognitive theory to which emphasizes on individual attitudes, beliefs, thoughts, and cognitive schema to influence a person’s feelings and link the relationship that exists between individual behavior and experiences.
With a focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, this paper examines the use of CBT in families as compared to individual settings. It also discusses the challenges that are likely to be encountered when using CBT in family settings. A good understanding on the use of CBT for individual and family settings has proven to be effective in helping mental health counselors realize good health outcomes for people with mental health disorders. These patients are able to live positively and to develop long-lasting relations among family members. Besides, mental health counselors can develop evidence-based strategies to address the challenges likely to be experienced in the course of therapy Discussion: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
How the Use of CBT In Families Compares to CBT In Individual Settings
In Families, CBT is solution-focused, brief and there is more than one client from the same family treated at the same time by a therapist. In most cases, issues are often brought forth by concerned family member/members (Wiebe & Greiver, 2015). Besides, CBT for family therapy tends to address numerous psychological issues and behavioral patterns that surround conflict, anger, outbursts, anxiety, depression, obesity, addiction and how to cope with physical illness in identifying the potential causes of a problem. As noted by Epstein, Schlesinger & Dryden (2013) the approaches to meeting the goals of therapy are taken from the general system theory which ensures that individuals outside the family and social network who come from different backgrounds and have different concerns are included in the course of therapy in family settings Discussion: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
In contrast, in CBT for individual therapy, concerns and issues are raised by either of the listening therapists as he/she responds to concerns. As a result, the feedback that is provided is highly dependent on the training of a therapist or mental health counselor. Therefore, in individual settings, friends, acquaintances and family are not included to offer advice (Craske & American Psychological Association, 2017). In other words, in individual settings, CBT is strict to the provision of therapy by a trained professional. I was once involved in individual therapy for a close friend who was battling with cocaine addiction that had adversely affected her social life and education. Every evening, I could travel to her home and conduct a face-to-face conversation with her in trying to identify potential approaches that she would apply to overcome the excessive use of cocaine. However, this therapy approach not only incurred high costs from daily traveling but also had the challenge of establishing a strong relation that was grounded on trust and understanding.
Challenges Counselors Might Encounter When Using CBT In the Family Settings
One major challenge of the use of CBT in family settings is that, the clients are not always the focus of attention. Therefore, the intervention levels are not that intense and specific as compared to individual therapy (Craske & American Psychological Association, 2017). Mental health counselors often work with more than family member to address more than one issue in: conflicts, interpersonal relations, addiction, obesity, how to support people living with chronic illnesses, anxiety or depression. Therefore, apart from addressing the issues that directly affect some family members; a counselor has to address issues in inter-personal relations among others.
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Besides, it is also worth noting that, in family settings, the confidentiality level is less secure as compared to individual settings. Mental health counselors may instruct family members and anyone else involved in family therapy from social networks to hold all the information confidential and only share with the involved family members. However, there are high chances that there would be a confidentiality breach which may negatively influence the therapeutic relationship and the resultant health outcomes (Leahy, 2016)Discussion: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
The last challenge that is likely to be encountered by mental health counselors when using cognitive behavioral therapy in family settings is social loafing. Some members of the family may fail to make the appropriate changes in the therapeutic process and family members who are still unmotivated may hide their concerns and avoid to be held accountable (Leahy, 2016). This weakens that therapeutic alliance.
Conclusion
CBT can effectively be used in individual and family settings to meet specific treatment goals. In family settings, CBT is brief, solution-focused and issues are collectively raised and addressed by family members with the guidance of a counselor. On the other hand, in using CBT for individual settings, issues are raised by the listening therapist and addressed through the collaboration of both the client and the therapist. The major challenges that are likely to be faced by counselors when using CBT in family settings are: the breach of confidentiality, a weak therapeutic alliance and the lack of a client-centered therapeutic approach which may leave some issues unaddressed Discussion: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
References
Craske, M. G., & American Psychological Association,. (2017). Cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Epstein, N., Schlesinger, S. E., & Dryden, W. (2013). Cognitive-behavioral therapy with
families. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Leahy, R. L. (2016). Roadblocks in cognitive-behavioral therapy: Transforming challenges into
opportunities for change. New York: Guilford.
Wiebe, E., & Greiver, M. (2015). Using cognitive behavioral therapy in practice: Qualitative
study of family physicians’ experiences Canadian Family Physician, 51(7), 993Discussion: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.