Comparing Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies Essay Example

Fundamental Principles, Theoretical Assumptions and the Main Branches of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies

According to Beck (2011), Cognitive Therapy (CT) is an organized, short-term, present-oriented psychoanalysis for mental distress that is meant to solve current issues and alter incoherent behavior and thinking. Cognitive therapy is subdivided into two main branches, namely Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). The overarching principle of this therapeutic approach is such that through an understanding and conceptualization of specific patients' habits and values, a psychiatrist can devise treatments that initiate changes in the patient's rational processes and create a long-lasting behavioral and emotional transformation. This principle is grounded on the cognitive model, which theorizes that dysfunctional reasoning, conducts and emotions are common to all mental disorders. Therefore, analyzing one's thoughts in a more adaptive and pragmatic manner eventually improves their behaviors and rational state.

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On the other hand, Sharf (2015) acknowledges that Behavior Therapy (BT) entails clinical procedures drawn from empirical results of psychological studies that emphasize the patient's present problems by identifying their observable behaviors to assist in modifying maladaptive to adaptive actions. Several branches or concepts constitute behavioral therapy, which include social learning, operant conditioning or instrumental learning and classical conditioning. The chief principle that behavioral therapists employ is that behaviors are learned through shaping, conditioning and reinforcement. Moreover, these behaviors influence a person's feelings, thoughts and lifestyle and thus bringing forth the essence of this therapeutic approach, which is to understand and correct behavior. Surprisingly, Sharf (2015) argues that there exist no predominant theories of behavior therapy. However, behavioral psychotherapists have designed treatment methods that rely on the above principles of behavior while focusing on the factors that assist in controlling demeanors and the specificity of the treatment goals.

Historical and Philosophical Origins

Beck (2011) recognizes Dr Aaron T. Beck, a then counselor at the University of Pennsylvania, as the pioneer of cognitive therapy in the early 1960s. Dr Beck performed a psychoanalysis, which he used to devise and conduct experimental procedures to verify psychoanalytic theories of depression. However, these experiments failed to corroborate the concepts in question thereby prompting Beck to conceptualize an alternative approach towards understanding depression that espouses the existence of spontaneous undesirable thoughts among depressed individuals. As opposed to Beck (2011), Knapp and Beck (2008) argue that the first notable discoveries and developments in cognitive therapy were witnessed in the 1970s, when Albert Bandura assessed the conventional behavioral paradigm, which was in use at that time, by studying the vicarious learning and information-processing philosophies used to explain human actions.

For behavior therapy, Sharf (2015) identifies Ivan Pavlov as the first physician to study human behavior through experimental psychology in the early 1900s. Ivan observed how dogs salivated when receiving food to lay the basis for the advancement of theory of classical conditioning. John Watson then improved Pavlov's ideologies by employing classical conditioning in learning a child's habits. After Watson, B. F. Skinner then hypothesized the operant conditioning approach that analyzed the effect of external factors on people's mannerisms. With the classical and operant conditioning philosophies focusing on assessing noticeable actions operating outside a person, Albert Bandura developed a contrasting school of thought known as the social cognitive theory, which explored mental processes in addition to describing how people acquire behaviors via observations of their surroundings. Nonetheless, Albert's postulations borrowed heavily from his predecessors' work in instrumental learning and classical conditioning.

Similarities and Differences between Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies

Similarities

The main connection between these two therapies lies in their emphasis on the significance of environmental factors in learning and acquiring behaviors among individuals. In this line, Mujik.biz (2018) acknowledges that in both approaches, therapists and patients collaborate with a shared understanding that the patient is aware of himself based on past and present experiences whereas the therapist possesses the methodological and theoretical knowledge to serve his client. Furthermore, both cognitive and behavioral techniques are goal-oriented to remedy current psychosomatic issues. The psychotherapist and his or her patient will develop treatment objectives collectively with the psychotherapist's ultimate goal being to assist the patient realize his ability to choose adaptive and helpful behaviors and thoughts.

Differences

With regards to the theoretical foundations of these psychotherapies, Cecil (2008) argues that behaviorists espouse learned behavior, primarily through observation, as the main approach towards comprehending normal and atypical human actions. However, cognitivists employ the cognitive theory in explaining behavior where they conjecture that human beings develop self-defeating thoughts through inaccurate convictions, which are exclusively cognitive processes. Secondly, reinforcement is used as the target of change in behavioral therapy to rectify the patient's manners in the chosen direction whereas cognitive therapy uses the patient's feedback to create precise psychological connections. Cecil (2008) continues to assert that behavioral therapy focuses on the present behavior by designing a suitable environment that will enhance learning while cognitive therapy accentuates past experiences in emotions and thoughts when modifying the client's conducts. Last but not least, Cecil (2008) states that the counselor-client relationship in cognitive therapy is directive and active that underwrites illogical self-disturbances as understood by the counselor while the National Association of Social Workers (1996) purports that behavioral therapy adopts an empowering and client-centered tactic where the therapists believe his client is capable of developing inventive and coherent thoughts.

A Discussion of the Differences between Several Therapy Concepts

Core Beliefs and Automatic Thoughts

According to Knapp and Beck (2008), automatic thoughts encompass all contemplations at the edge of awareness that occur swiftly and impulsively and generate an instantaneous construal of a certain context. Most individuals do not recognize the presence of these thoughts until they are taught to track and isolate them. Generally, automatic thoughts are considered to be conceivable although their precision is often overlooked. Conversely, core beliefs are deeper dysfunctional thoughts, entrenched in the automatic thoughts, which contain rational structures of archived classic features of experiences and stimuli used to synchronize new information thus shaping the way incidences are conceptualized. For instance, John refuses to apply for a clerical job in a new firm with excuse-generating thoughts such as "I will apply for this post when I return from my sabbatical" or "I cannot handle two jobs in different companies at the same time" greatly influencing his refusal to consider that vacancy. He consults a psychiatrist who helps him identify automatic thoughts associated with job hunting, such as "I will not live up to my employer's expectations" or "I do not deserve this position at the company". The psychiatrist will coordinate these automatic thoughts to develop core beliefs that can facilitate the modification of John's thinking style and attitude towards the available job offer.

Positive Reinforcement, Negative Reinforcement, Punishment

In his exploration of the operant conditioning concept in behavioral therapy, Sharf (2015) describes positive reinforcement as a positive incident that results from an individual's behavior. For instance, if Mary buys her son, Andrew, a new PlayStation for passing his exams, he will feel motivated to even perform better in forthcoming tests this reinforcing his morale in school. Unlike positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement involves the strengthening of a response by getting rid of an undesirable stimulus. For example, watching a movie after a tiresome day at work will facilitate the relaxation of one's mind by removing fatigue, which is the stressing agent. Finally, punishment involves a scenario where responses to certain destructive deeds reduce the possibility of such deeds reoccurring. For example, fining a contractor for failing to complete a construction project in due time will prompt the contractor to strive to complete an assigned project on time in the future.

Strengths and Limitations of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Therapy

Strengths. Vicky (2013) acknowledges the practicability of cognitive approaches in numerous areas as one of their main strengths. For instance, the cognitive theory can be used to find out if someone has autism. Additionally, an awareness that individuals suffering from this disorder lack the theory of mind facilitates an improved comprehension of the basics of autism and how to manage its occurrence in social settings. On another note, cognitive therapy largely depends on experimental knowledge that allows for the determination of the causative effects of human behaviors and the control of puzzling variables. Therefore, researches that follow the cognitive approach are likely to show a high internal validity since inessential variables are kept in check.

Limitations. Despite presenting the above advantages, Vicky (2013) points out that the key weakness of cognitive methods is its emphasis on unobservable behaviors thereby solely relying on extrapolations to predict or rectify manners. This dependence on deductions ultimately increases the likelihood of biases in the results obtained from a behavioral analysis. Moreover, cognitive techniques disregard other important factors that may affect behavior such as a child's upbringing and physiological processes that significantly explain why some people indulge in crime.

Behavioral Therapy

Strengths. Corey (2009) states that the ability of behavioral approaches to delivering empirically justifiable outcomes presents the key advantage of this therapeutic procedure. Moreover, such outcomes tend to corroborate the predictions made in the theories of behavioral therapy this guaranteeing the efficiency of the treatment programs designed for patients. Secondly, behavioral therapies focus on ethical accountability where the patient is allowed to choose the behaviors that he or she will change. A healthy collaboration between the patient and his psychiatrist further assists in managing ethical problems that may arise when the client feel that their autonomy is threatened. Also, behavioral approaches provide numerous therapeutic techniques such as biofeedback, aversion therapy, social skills training and systematic desensitization to resolve mental disturbances.

Limitations. Corey (2009) strongly critiques behavioral therapy by stating that it solves symptoms of psychological distress as opposed to the causal issues such as thoughts and emotions. Besides, this treatment method overlooks some crucial interpersonal factors in psychoanalysis with the client being deprived of the free will to amend or continue embracing his or her behaviors. Therapists have total control of their patients by manipulating how they respond to certai...