The rising cases of mental and behavioral disorders across all patient populations call for implementing the appropriate interventions. Mental health experts and researchers have invested time and funds in numerous research projects to determine the most effective treatment options for such patients. In its various forms, cognitive-behavioral therapy has gained substantial popularity in the mental health field in the recent past. Therapists can implement CBT through self-help, which is only appropriate when the caregiver can help the patient replace old thoughts with new rational ones. The treatment is best suited for particular categories of personal difficulties that involve negative influences of thoughts on feelings and behaviors.
CBT acknowledges that our thoughts play a vital role in how we feel and behave. The National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists, NACBT (2021), defines CBT as a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the role of thinking in how we feel and behave. Therefore, CBT is best suited to address personal difficulties that emanate from negative thoughts. Transforming people’s minds enables them to cope with challenging circumstances when the external environment does not change (NACBT, 2020). CBT is, therefore, best for such challenges because patients learn to think differently and act accordingly even after the therapy sessions.
The self-help form approach to CBT is important to the mental health field, although its benefits are limited. The approach is beneficial when therapists focus on teaching rational self-counseling skills (NACBT, 2021). Consequently, the patients can independently cope with challenging circumstances in the absence of a therapist. CBT’s instructive nature facilitates rational self-counsel by empowering patients with the confidence to overcome challenges without external help. However, the self-help form of CBT may not be enough if the therapist does not establish a coherent therapeutic roadmap (Pucci, 2021). Lack of a clear roadmap causes confusion among the clients and leads to poor outcomes.
References
NACBT. (2021). What is CBT? What is cognitive-behavioral therapy? Web.
Pucci, A. R. (2021). When cognitive-behavioral therapy fails: The five most common reasons. Web.