Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques and the case of Betty

Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive and behavioral techniques / therapy

Cognitive Therapist Behavioral Techniques

Case of the Fat Lady

Cognitive behaviorist therapy is a blend of two therapies; cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. Cognitive therapy first developed by Aaron Beck in 1960 has its focus on individual beliefs and their influences on actions and moods. Its core aims are to alter an individual mindset to be healthy and adaptive (Beck, 1976; Rathod, Kingdon, Weiden, & Turkington, 2008). Behavioral therapy focuses on individual aims and actions towards changing patterns in unhealthy behaviors (Rathod et al., 2008). Cognitive behavioral therapy assists an individual to focus on their current difficulties and relate on how to resolve them. Active involvement of both the therapist and the patient helps in identification of the thinking patterns in distort bringing into foresight a recognizable change in thought and behavior (Leichsenring & Leibing, 2007). Exploring and encouraging discussions on unrelated matters in the early stages help to maintain patients in the therapy while strengthening a technical component of the treatment. By helping the patient to perceive, the treatment to be trusting, safe and, collaborative it allows the process to be stronger and opens avenues to explore complex issues relating to the treatment.

Cognitive therapist can employ empathy to build rapport and facilitate feeling of mutual respect and trust. Empathy is a power of internalizing experiences from another person's point-of-view. It is necessary for the therapist to conceive an understanding of the patient from their background. In order to express empathy, the therapist should be careful not to be disrespectful of the patient's unique background through questions they ask. An emotional understanding is required of the therapist for a solid step towards a deeper realizing a solution to the patient's problem. Empathy helps in validation of patient's experiences while it steers clear the judgmental attitude that can easily erode trust and wiliness to share (Leichsenring & Leibing, 2007).

Genuineness as a cognitive behavioral technic is an ability to be truthful and authentic as such building a solid relationship between the patient and the therapist. It allows patients to explore the credibility of a therapist as well as take advantage of their genuineness to reveal more (Leichsenring & Leibing, 2007). Genuineness is expressed in various forms. In the case of Betty, in maintaining relationships, a therapist should encourage the patient to remain active and empowered in an attempt to facilitate the change behavior developments. Playing role behaviors is also a measure that can assure the patients of the therapist concern to alleviate their fears and problems in life.

Betty had faced up with societal rejections by male persons in the society. In many instances, Betty had attempted to go on dates but, her obese character pushed men away. From the experiences, she had in her obese life Betty resulted to an active sexual fantasy life avoiding physical contact with men. To deal with Betty's fear of relationships the therapist can restate the patients main concern thought in ways different reflecting emotions experienced currently by the patient. This will help to gauge the extent of the resentful feeling to the phenomenon in their life. It will also help the patient realize that they are their own hindrance to exploring meaningful satisfying relationships.

A therapist can also suggest a more detailed treatment to the patient where a specialist can be involved. This will open avenues to appreciate themselves even more despite their challenge (Burns, Kubilus, Breuhl, Harden, & Lofland, 2003). In the case of Betty, seeing a gynecologist helps to explore more on her sexuality and her desires as lady. The therapist can add to the specialist extermination by exploring measures to improve Betty's confidence through deeper revelation of her experiences as a child.

Betty automatic thoughts about losing weight set in a desire for her to conquer her greatest obstacle in life. Obesity has been part of Betty's life and her desire for weight loss comes in to create an avenue for acceptability in the society. Her desire to set aside obesity brings in more complications to the therapy treatment as it unravels more defects in her life. The therapist is tasked to ensure that Betty expectation about weight loss in managed in order not to develop further problems. As much as weight loss is important to Betty, her inability to manage the tremendous changes may throw her into dissociative disorder where she fails to achieve a balance of the events. A cognitive therapist ought to assist the patient to explore more of her inner self in order for her to manage expectations. This is easily allowing the patient to get in touch with who she really is other than fantasizing. The need for the patient to come to terms with the real persons and the reality in the society in important as far as automatic weight loss is concerned (Burns et al., 2003).

Race & Ethnicity

Matching clients with a therapist of similar race has been presumed to result in stronger therapeutic treatment. This presumption has sound theoretical underpinnings in social psychology. People typically associate with those they perceive to be similar to themselves. In line with this thought, further developments have emerged where therapist depict themselves as capable to treat people of different races equally. This argument should be upheld with resolved consciousness that some culturally held beliefs and assumptions have an inherent persuasion towards one own judgment (Leichsenring & Leibing, 2007). It is imperative for the therapist to appreciate that communications with the patients will require them to remain impartial and sensitive to patient's cultural background.

Therapist Own identity Understanding

Therapist must have an understanding of measures to gauge the level their culture influences their judgment has on the interaction with their patients. This awareness call for a therapist wholesome appreciation own gender, ethical, racial and class identity since they have influence on ones judgments. Awareness of the influences of their identities helps therapist to observe the patient in light of their respective background and not just on the therapist's background. In this case, cultural responsiveness on the part of the therapist is a cornerstone towards positive treatment and equally beneficial to a patients appreciating of contributions made. This understanding ensures the therapist comes out as respectful and understanding as opposed to being sympathetic to the patient (Sue et al., 2007).