Aaron T. Beck “The Father of Cognitive

Behavior Therapy”

The Early Years Aaron Beck was born in Providence, Rhode Island,

on July 18, 1921.

He was the youngest of five children.

Both of his parents were Russian Jewish immigrants.

Beck had an older brother and sister that died before

he was born.

The Early Years His brother and

sister passed away from

the influenza

pandemic of 1919.

His mother became extremely depressed after loosing her two children to the

flu.

Beck felt that he was supposed to be a replacement for his deceased sister. He felt this way mostly because of his mother’s constant expressions of disappointment over him being a boy and not a girl.

The Early YearsBecause of the struggles he was forced to face as a child Beck developed great courage and determination.

Because of the circumstances and events surrounding his childhood, Beck later became interested in studying the “psychological turning point.” This is what ultimately started Beck on his way to becoming “The Father of Cognitive Behavior Therapy.”

When he was 7 years old he broke his arm , and this resulted in him getting blood poisoning.

Beck was then eventually held back a year in school because of this sickness. Beck says this made him feel “stupid.”

Educational Background

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)A psychotherapeutic approach that

addresses dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and cognitive processes through goal-oriented and systematic procedures.

Used to treat such conditions as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, and psychotic disorders.

The basic idea is that if we change the way we think then we will ultimately change the way we behave.

Goal: to change the way clients think about and/or interpret situations as well as their daily behaviors

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) Based on the notion that our

thoughts, rather than people, situations, and/or events, cause how we feel and/or behave

Emphasizes the role of thinking in how we feel and what we do.

Aimed at reducing or suppressing individual’s symptoms as quickly and economically as possible.

The Six Phases of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

1. Assessment

2. Reconceptualization

3. Skills Acquisition

4. Skills Consolidation and Application Training

5. Generalization and Maintenance

6. Post Treatment Assessment Follow Up

Types of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

1. Rational-Emotive Therapy (RET): Utilizes debate and persuasion in order to assist clients in correcting dysfunctional thinking and/or dysfunctional behaviors. (Also referred to as Behavior Therapy)

2. Stress-Inoculation Training (SIT): Self-instructional training that focuses on altering self-statements.

3. Cognitive Therapy (CT): A psychotherapeutic approach that focuses on the cognitive (thinking)

and the behavioral aspects of a psychological condition.

Rational Emotive Therapy (RET)

(A.K.A. Behavior Therapy)Provides behavioral intervention strategies & programs for clients.

Goals:

1. To help clients recognize and modify dysfunctional behavior.

2. To help clients develop and strengthen the skills needed to function successfully in society.

Stress Inoculation Therapy (SIT)A psychotherapy method intended to help clients

prepare themselves in advance to handle stressful situations.

Clients are educated regarding the nature of stress, the possible negative outcomes related to stress, and the steps that can be taken to avoid those negative outcomes.

Three Phases: 1. Initial Conceptualization: therapist educates clients on the general nature of stress 2. Skills Acquisition and Rehearsal: therapist works with clients to develop and strengthen a variety of coping skills. (Ex. Emotional skills, relaxation skills, cognitive skills, problem-solving skills, communication skills, and socialization skills. 3. Follow Through: the therapist provides opportunities for the clients to practice using their coping skills.

Cognitive Therapy (CT)A type of psychotherapy developed by Aaron Beck in the 1960s.

Goals: 1. To help clients overcome their difficulties by identifying and changing dysfunctional thinking, behavior, and emotional responses.

2. To help clients develop skills for modifying beliefs, identifying distorted thinking, relating to others in different ways, and changing behaviors.

The Three Stages of Cognitive Therapy (CT)1. Client learns how to identify

dysfunctional thoughts using therapeutic rationales.

2. Client developments an awareness of the dysfunctional thoughts.

3. Client addresses and modifies dysfunctional thoughts. Client focuses on more functional thinking.

Beck says that in order to achieve cognition one must first go through the levels of human thought process.

1. Cognitive Structures

2. Cognitive Processes

3. Cognitive Products

The Three Levels of the Human Thought Process

1. Cognitive Structures (or self-schemata): The basic assumptions we make about ourselves and the world.

At this level Beck identifies a “cognitive triad” that consists of the following assumptions:

1. “I am worthless and inadequate” 2. “The world is an awful place” 3. “The future is bleak”

The Three Levels of the Human Thought Process

2. Cognitive Processes: Reasoning styles Used in processing actual events in our lives.

At this level Beck identifies the following cognitive distortions (these are often used in the processing of specific events by individuals who are emotionally distressed):

1. Arbitrary Inference: drawing conclusions without or despite evidence

1.Selective Abstraction: focus on single detail while ignoring relevant details 2.Overgeneralization: developing a general rule based on few events/facts3.Magnification/Mineralization: severely exaggerating/underestimating the significance of an event 4.Personalization: Relating events to yourself without reason to do so5.Dichotomous Thinking: events are placed into opposing, mutually exclusive categories

The Three Levels of the Human Thought Process

The Three Levels of the Human Thought Process

3. Cognitive Products: Statements made to ourselves (“internal dialogue”)

This “internal dialogue” is similar to an announcer giving “play-by-play” of what he or she sees, interprets, and verbally communicates on a playing field.

Beck’s Inventories And Scales

Awards & Recognitions

Published Works The Diagnosis and Management of

Depression (1967)

Depression: Causes and Treatments (1972)

Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders (1975)

Cognitive Therapy of Depression (with John Rush, Brian Shaw, & Gary Emery, 1979)

Cognitive Therapy in Clinical Practice: An Illustrative Casebook

(with Jan Scott & Mark Williams, 1989)

The Integrative Power of Cognitive Therapy (with Brad Alfred, 1998)

Prisoners of Hate: The Cognitive Basis of Anger, Hostility, and Violence (1999)

Scientific Foundations of Cognitive Theory and Therapy of Depression

(with David Clark, 1999)

Cognitive Therapy of Personality Disorders (with Alfred Freeman, 2003)

Cognitive Therapy with Inpatients Developing

A Cognitive Milieu (with Jesse Wright, Michael Thase, & John Ludgate,

2003)

Cognitive Therapy with Chronic Pain Patients

(with Carrie Winterowd & Daniel Gruener, 2003)

Anxiety Disorders and Phobias: A Cognitive Perspective

(with Gary Emergy & Ruth Greenberg, 2005)

Schizophrenia: Cognitive Theory, Research, and Therapy

(with Neil Rector, Neal Stolar, & Paul Grant, 2008)

Cognitive Therapy of Anxiety Disorders: Science and Practice

(with David Clark, 2010)

Videos …

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Role Play Session

The ABC's of EmotionsCognitiv

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"Beck Scales and Inventories." Perelman School of Medicine. University of Pennsylvania, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

"CBT or Psychodynamic Therapy?" An Information Resource About CBT and Psychodynamic Therapy. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

"GoodTherapy.org - Therapy, Find a Therapist or Marriage Counselor." GoodTherapy.org - Therapy, Find a Therapist or Marriage Counselor. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

"National Center for Biotechnology Information." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

"Psychologist Anytime Anywhere." Psychologist Anywhere Anytime. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

Works Cited

Gerig, Mark. Foundations for Mental Health and Community Counseling. Saddle River, New Jersey; Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall, 2007.

"Registry of Scales and Measures: Psychological Tests, Scales, Questionnaires and Checklists." Registry of Scales and Measures: Psychological Tests, Scales, Questionnaires and Checklists. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

"Sausalito Self-Esteem Therapy-Online Anxiety Therapy | Sharon Valentino, MA, CHT, MFT." Sausalito Self- Esteem Therapy-Online Anxiety Therapy | Sharon Valentino, MA, CHT, MFT. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

Spear, Jane. “Beck, Aaron T.” Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology. 2001. Encyclopedia Online. 01 February. 2013. http://www.ecyclopedia.com/doc/1G23406000075.html

"Toni J. Horvath, LMFT Sacramento, Fair Oaks Marriage and Family Therapist." Toni J. Horvath, Marriage and Family Therapist Sacramento, Fair Oaks Ca. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

Works Cited