This article will address the topic of Cognitive restructuring, which has aroused great interest and controversy in various areas. Cognitive restructuring has generated an intense debate in contemporary society, awakening the curiosity and opinion of specialists and the general public. Its relevance and significance have led to a deeper study and analysis, with the aim of understanding its impact and scope. In this sense, it is pertinent to examine in detail the different aspects surrounding Cognitive restructuring, exploring its origin, evolution, repercussions and possible future scenarios. Likewise, it seeks to offer a comprehensive perspective that allows enriching knowledge about Cognitive restructuring, providing elements that contribute to a critical and reflective analysis.
Identification of problematic cognitions known as "automatic thoughts" (ATs) which are dysfunctional or negative views of the self, world, or future based upon already existing beliefs about oneself, the world, or the future
Identification of the cognitive distortions in the ATs
Rational disputation of ATs with the Socratic method
Development of a rational rebuttal to the ATs
There are six types of automatic thoughts:
Self-evaluated thoughts
Thoughts about the evaluations of others
Evaluative thoughts about the other person with whom they are interacting
When utilizing cognitive restructuring in rational emotive therapy (RET), the emphasis is on two central notions: (1) thoughts affect human emotion as well as behavior and (2) irrational beliefs are mainly responsible for a wide range of disorders. RET also classifies four types of irrational beliefs: dire necessity, feeling awful, cannot stand something, and self-condemnation. It is described as cognitive-emotional retraining. The rationale used in cognitive restructuring attempts to strengthen the client's belief that (1) "self-talk" can influence performance, and (2) in particular self-defeating thoughts or negative self-statements can cause emotional distress and interfere with performance, a process that then repeats again in a cycle. Mood repair strategies are implemented in cognitive restructuring in hopes of contributing to a cessation of the negative cycle.
When utilizing cognitive restructuring in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), it is combined with psychoeducation, monitoring, in vivo experience, imaginal exposure, behavioral activation, and homework assignments to achieve remission. The cognitive behavioral approach is said to consist of three core techniques: cognitive restructuring, training in coping skills, and problem solving.
Applications within therapy
There are many methods used in cognitive restructuring, which usually involve identifying and labelling distorted thoughts, such as "all or none thinking, disqualifying the positive, mental filtering, jumping to conclusions, catastrophizing, emotional reasoning, should statements, and personalization." The following lists methods commonly used in cognitive restructuring:
Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) includes awfulizing, when a person causes themselves disturbance by labelling an upcoming situation as 'awful', rather than envisaging how the situation may actually unfold, and Must-ing, when a person places a false demand on themselves that something 'must' happen (e.g. 'I must get an A in this exam'.)
Critics of cognitive restructuring claim that the process of challenging dysfunctional thoughts will "teach clients to become better suppressors and avoiders of their unwanted thoughts" and that cognitive restructuring shows less immediate improvement because real-world practice is often required. Other criticisms include that the approach is mechanistic and impersonal and that the relationship between therapist and client is irrelevant.[citation needed] Neil Jacobson's component analysis of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), claims that the cognitive restructuring component is unnecessary, at least with depression. He argues that it is the behavioural activation components of CBT that are effective in giving therapy, not cognitive restructuring, as delivered by cognitive behavioural therapy. Others also argue that it's not necessary to challenge thoughts with cognitive restructuring.
^Cooper P.J.; Steere J. (1995). "A comparison of two psychological treatments for bulimia nervosa: Implications for models of maintenance". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 33 (8): 875–885. doi:10.1016/0005-7967(95)00033-t. PMID7487847.
^Harvey L.; Inglis S.J.; Espie C.A. (2002). "Insomniacs' reported use of CBT components and relationship to long-term clinical outcome". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 40 (1): 75–83. doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(01)00004-3. PMID11762429.
^ abTaylor S.; Woody S.; Koch W.J.; McLean P.; Paterson R.J.; Anderson K.W. (1997). "Cognitive restructuring in the treatment of social phobia". Behavior Modification. 21 (4): 487–511. doi:10.1177/01454455970214006. PMID9337603. S2CID43746905.
^Fairburn, C. G., Marcus, M. D., & Wilson, G. T. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for binge eating and bulimia nervosa: A comprehensive treatment manual. In C. G. Fairburn & G. T. Wilson (Eds.), Binge eating: Nature, assessment and treatment (pp. 361–404). New York: Guilford Press.
^Cooper M.; Todd G.; Turner H.; Wells A. (2007). "Cognitive therapy for bulimia nervosa: an A-B replication series". Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. 14 (5): 402–411. doi:10.1002/cpp.548.
^Heimberg R. G.; Salzman D. G.; Holt C. S.; Blendell K. A. (1993). "Cognitive behavioral group treatment for social phobia: Effectiveness at five-year follow-up". Cognitive Therapy and Research. 17 (4): 325–339. doi:10.1007/bf01177658. S2CID38237793.
^Linehan, M.M. (1993). Cognitive behavioural treatment of borderline personality disorder. Nueva York: Guilford Press.
^Safren S. A.; Otto M. W.; Sprich S.; Winett C. L.; Wilens T. E.; Biederman J. (2005). "Cognitive-behavioral therapy for ADHD in medication-treated adults with continued symptoms". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 43 (7): 831–842. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2004.07.001. PMID15896281.
^Jimenez-Murcia S.; Moya E. M.; Granero R.; Aymami M. N.; Gomez-Pena M.; Jaurrieta N.; et al. (2007). "Cognitivebehavioral group treatment for pathological gambling: Analysis of effectiveness and predictors of therapy outcome". Psychotherapy Research. 17 (5): 544–552. doi:10.1080/10503300601158822. S2CID143629432.
^Ellis, A., & Grieger, R. (1977). Handbook of rational emotive therapy. New York: Springer
^ abFrojan-Parga M.X.; Calero-Elvira A.; Montano-Fidalgo M. (2009). "Analysis of the therapist's verbal behavior during cognitive restructuring debates: a case study". Psychotherapy Research. 19 (1): 30–41. doi:10.1080/10503300802326046. PMID18815947. S2CID42712960.
^Werner-Seidler, A., Moulds, M. L. "Mood repair and processing mode in depression". Oct 24, 2011. US: American Psychological Association.
^ abHuppert J.D. (2009). "The building blocks of treatment in cognitive-behavioral therapy". Israel Journal of Psychiatry Related Science. 46 (4): 245–250. PMID20635770.
^Eifert, G. H., & Forsyth, J. P. (2005). Acceptance and commitment therapy for anxiety disorders: A practitioner’s treatment guide to using mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based behavior change strategies. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.