cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is based on the idea that our thoughts result in our feelings and behaviors, not external things, like people, situations, and/or events. The benefit of this fact is that we can change the way we think to feel / act better even if the situation does not change.
Cognitive-behavioral therapists have a specific agenda for each session in which specific techniques /concepts are taught to help both the therapist and client focus on the client’s goals. CBT is time-limited and the ending of the formal therapy is a decision made by the therapist and client.
*Additionally, CBT-E (enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy) is utilized with clients with disordered eating*
cognitive processing therapy
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a cognitive-behavioral treatment for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). CPT has been shown to be effective in reducing PTSD symptoms related to a variety of traumatic events including child abuse, combat, rape and natural disasters. CPT is endorsed by the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, as well as the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, as a best practice for the treatment of PTSD.
CPT provides a way to understand why recovery from traumatic events is difficult and how symptoms of PTSD affect daily life functioning. The focus is on identifying how traumatic experiences change thoughts and beliefs, and how thoughts influence current feelings and behaviors.
WRITTEN EXPOSURE THERAPY
Written Exposure Therapy (WET) is an evidence-based brief PTSD treatment approach that produces clinically significant reductions in PTSD symptoms in as few as five treatment sessions by having clients write about the trauma. It’s efficient, effective, associated with low treatment dropout rates, and has been found to be equally effective as more time intensive therapies – all without requiring clients to verbalize the details of their traumas again and again.
PROLONGED EXPOSURE THERAPY
Prolonged exposure (PE) teaches individuals to gradually approach their trauma-related memories, feelings and situations as these individuals learn that trauma-related memories and cues are not dangerous and do not need to be avoided.
Exposure is an intervention strategy commonly used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help individuals confront fears. Prolonged exposure is a specific type of CBT that teaches individuals to gradually approach trauma-related memories, feelings and situations.
Most people want to avoid anything that reminds them of the trauma they experienced, but doing so reinforces their fear. By facing what has been avoided, a person can decrease symptoms of PTSD by actively learning that the trauma-related memories and cues are not unsafe and do not need to be avoided.
cognitive behavioral therapy enhanced
CBT-E is the abbreviation for “enhanced cognitive behavior therapy”, and is one of the most effective treatments for eating disorders. It is a “trans-diagnostic” treatment for all forms of eating disorder including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other similar states.
It was developed as an outpatient treatment for adults but is available as an intensive version for day patients and inpatients. There is also a version for younger people. Detailed treatment guides are available for CBT-E.
CBT-E isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” treatment. CBT-E is a highly individualized treatment. The therapist creates a specific version of CBT-E to match the exact eating problem of the person receiving treatment.