Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Exploring the Model
- Empirical support for CBT
- Limitations of the research and potential risks
- Evolution of CBT from its initial model to the expanded
- CBT’s influence on the development of other models (ACT, DBT, schema therapy)
- Case Example: 32-year-old depressed female client with underlying beliefs that she is defected and will be rejected
Assessment and Treatment Planning Through the Lens of CBT
- Cross-sectional
- Longitudinal conceptualization
- Issues in case formulation
- Incorporating MI and the stages of change model into the assessment process
- Formulating a CBT treatment plan
- Case example: A 45-year-old female client with relationship problems and chronic pain
Behavioral Interventions
- Behavioral activation
- Graded assignments
- Pleasure scheduling
- Problem solving
Cognitive Interventions
- Identifying core beliefs
- Eliciting negative thoughts
- Recognizing cognitive distortions
- Use of reframining, evidence review and de-catastrophizing
The CBT Session, Step by Step
- Essential elements of competent CBT: The Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale
- Fostering the therapeutic alliance
- Collaboration
- Structure and agenda setting
- Feedback
- Guided discovery
- Homework
CBT with Depressive Disorders
- Psychoeducation
- Transforming anhedonia, changing negative thinking and rumination
- Helping clients overcome low energy and lack of motivation
- Problem-solving strategies to provide solutions to daily problems
- Relapse prevention
- Crisis intervention for active and passive suicidal ideation
- Case study: A 59-year-old man with a severe major depressive episode where the depression was related to activity/lack of activity
CBT with Bipolar and Related Disorders
- Psychoeducation
- Management of manic symptoms
- Mood rating and monitoring
- Identification of triggers and prodromal symptoms
- CBT for medication compliance
- Overcoming sleep disturbance
CBT for Anxiety Disorders
- CBT’s role in managing anxiety and worry
- Reducing physiological effects of anxiety
- Disrupting rumination, anxiety spirals, and more
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder: cognitive and behavioral interventions
- Panic Disorder: Cognitive interventions
- Situational and interoceptive exposure
- OCD: Exposure and response Prevention (ERP)
- Case example; A 40-year-old man presenting with “unexpected” panic attacks which lead to catastrophic cognitions
- Cognitive approaches for intrusive thoughts
- PTSD: Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Social Anxiety Disorder: Exposure and cognitive approaches
- Case Example: A 40-year-old man with intrusive thoughts regarding sexual assault
Special Issues
- Multicultural considerations
- Interpersonal and family issues
- Other common issues in treatment delivery


