Intervention and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (cbt)

Introduction

In this essay, I will examine an intervention used to assist young people who suffer from mental health issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The intervention I have chosen to focus on is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). I will explain both what an intervention is and what cognitive behavioural therapy entails. I will briefly describe how cognitive behavioural therapy works and provide both the positives and negatives of this intervention. I will also use a variety of sources to support these findings. The term “intervention” refers to actions taken in order to interfere with an ongoing process and modify it for the better (Reber et al., 2009, p. 397).

Intervention and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a psycho-social intervention that focuses on changing our thought and behavioural patterns (O’Brien, 2011). CBT synthesizes many of Albert Ellis and Aaron T. Beck's ideas. Macleod (2003) notes that cognitive behavioural therapy is the most recent of the major therapy orientations, with new elements being added to it, including strategies for cognitive intervention (O'Brien, 2011, p. 163).

Cognitive behavioural therapy is based on the ideology that our thinking process, feelings, and behaviour are all interconnected. It posits that our thoughts and feelings can determine how we behave. The aim of cognitive behavioural therapy is to help individuals gain awareness of when they are making negative judgments and to learn to identify behavioural sequences that emphasize negative thinking. CBT assists people in forming different ways of thinking and acting, which aims to decrease the psychological distress they are experiencing. This approach is known as cognitive restructuring.

The overall aim is for the individual to attribute improvement in their problems to their own efforts, in collaboration with the therapist. This therapy addresses issues in a straightforward manner. It concentrates on a shared model of understanding, using a psycho-educational approach. Its effectiveness as a model is demonstrated by its continual and increasing use and recommendation by a range of evidence-based guidelines (Roth & Fonagy, 2005). This theory allows young people to evaluate their own situations, become aware of their issues, and identify their origins. Once they know the source of the problem, the young person can take appropriate actions to gradually work towards resolving the issue. Once the issue is resolved, they will see the benefits of cognitive behavioural therapy.

Advantages of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

An advantage of cognitive behavioural therapy is that it is typically short-term, requiring only five to ten months for most emotional problems. Young people attend one session per week, with each session lasting roughly 50 minutes. During the sessions, the young person and therapist work together to understand the problems and develop new ways to manage them. CBT introduces young people to a set of principles that they can apply whenever necessary, providing lifelong benefits (Martin, 2016).

The effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy is supported by evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), uncontrolled trials, case series, and case studies. CBT has been widely tested since the first outcome study was published in 1977 (Rush et al., 1977). By this stage, there have been over 500 outcome studies demonstrating the effectiveness of CBT for a wide range of psychiatric disorders, psychological problems, and medical problems with psychological components. Beck (2011, p. 4) lists various disorders that have been successfully treated by CBT, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, family issues, insomnia, and severe anxiety. This evidence highlights the treatment's considerable benefits.

Challenges and Criticisms of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

From the book "Cognitive Therapy and Emotional Disorders" by Beck (1979), Allport (1968) refers to cognitive behavioural therapy as “a significant revolution.” Allport describes this approach as an “attitudinal” therapy, identifying similar points of agreement in the theories of various writers, such as Adler, Erikson, Horney, Maslow, and Rogers. He emphasizes that the work of Albert Ellis should be included among these great contributors. To further demonstrate CBT's strengths, Butler and Beck (2000) reviewed 14 meta-analyses to examine the efficiency of Beck’s cognitive therapy, finding that around 80% of participants benefited from the therapy. This suggests that awareness of the cognitive explanation can indeed improve the quality of a young person’s life.

Agreeing with Butler and Beck, Hoffman & Smits (2017) stated that because CBT is problem-focused, it is exceedingly productive in treating a range of mental health and adaptation issues. Therapists have a variety of strategic interventions to implement based on each patient’s clinical presentation, treatment goals, and preferences. However, despite numerous sources supporting CBT due to its benefits, some oppose it. Driessen & Hollon (2011) suggest that Motivational Interviewing can enhance CBT by specifying strategies to build clients’ motivation to undertake the challenging work. Although CBT has evidence supporting its strengths, LeBeau et al. (2013) state that many individuals do not respond to treatment or adhere to treatment tasks, discontinue treatment, and are unable to maintain change after initial success (Naar & Safren, 2017). Driessen & Hollon are not entirely against CBT but feel it can be significantly enhanced if combined with motivational interviewing.

Conclusion

To conclude, the overall aim of cognitive behavioural therapy is for individuals to attribute improvements in their problems to their own efforts, in collaboration with the therapist. This essay has analyzed the CBT intervention used to help young people who suffer from mental health issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The sources reviewed have demonstrated through their studies that there are positive effects to be gained from participating in CBT. The research conducted has provided information showing that CBT can have both positives and negatives as an intervention. However, the sources have proven it to be mostly successful and a favorable intervention to use when working with young people.