Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Answer

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Introduction

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is amongst the psycho-social intervention, which focuses on the improvement of mental health. Gentle-Genitty, Chen, Karikari, & Barnett (2014) substantiates that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on changing and challenging obstructive cognitive behaviors and deformation, enhancing emotional self-control, and the enhancement of personal managing approaches that focus on resolving existing matters. This paper therefore expounds and explicates various benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy demonstrating its usefulness on social work practice. Additionally, the paper compares and contrast different social work theories with cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Finally, the article explains how theories guide social work practice, including the areas of assessment, intervention and evaluation.

Benefits of Cognitive Behavioral therapy

According to Dobson & Dobson (2018), Cognitive Behavioral therapy amongst other models has proved to be vital in the practice of psycho-social intervention. Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT) aims at relieving symptoms and resolving problems while also helping clients in the acquisition of new skills and coping strategies that can lead to the modification of cognitive structures. The theory leads to the identification of negative thoughts and behaviors in patients; hence, it facilitates a change in patterns of thinking and behaviors around difficulties that a patient experience. More advertently, main components of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy include core beliefs and automatic thoughts amongst clients and the specialist (Craske, 2014). Additionally, CBT is useful in the treatment of anxiety and depression, as well as other mental disorders (Dobson & Dobson, 2018). For social anxiety, cognitive behavioral therapy teaches individuals to be more rational and control their thinking and beliefs. Furthermore, CBT is also effective in situations where medication alone is not adequate; for instance, it helps in managing anger and coping with grief and loss. Dobson and Dobson (2018) also corroborate that CBT has the power to re-train a patient's thoughts and alter the behaviors leading to recovery.  However, the theory may not be suitable for patients with complex mental health needs or difficulties in learning.

Comparison and Contrast of Therapies

This part of the article mainly focuses on the comparison between Cognitive behavioral therapy and other models. Primarily, cognitive therapy aims at the client’s way of thinking (Craske, 2014). In an excellent exposition, it examines how and why the patient thinks in a particular manner and focuses on changing the patterns to create an emotional nurturing, and positive conditions that can substitute the existing state of tension that the patient is encountering. Additionally, it takes an extensive methodology to encourage healthy and long-term improvement in a client, while Applied Behavior Therapy addresses immediate and particular behavioral matter (Turner, 2017). In relation to other therapies, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy takes a short time to execute and requires individuals to be committed for great achievement. It mainly employs directive consulting tools such as questioning and making interpretations to govern and guide clients. At the same time, the person-centered model revolves mostly around the client since it is believed that the client knows the best technique when dealing with their matters (Healy, 2014). On the other end, both client-centered model and CBT focus on establishing a cooperative atmosphere and a mutual understanding between the psychotherapist and the patient, while reassuring the latter that it is the patient themselves who are the preeminent specialists on their matters (Turner, 2017). More advertently, both models, in particular a client-centered model and cognitive behavioral therapy, allows an individual to take part in the process of recovering energetically. Finally, all social work models are used to help individuals engage in the social realm in a meaningful way.

Theories and Social Work Practice

As a helping career, the main job of social work is to support individuals to meet their needs and improve their health. In order to effectually respond to patients' requirements and difficulties, specialized social workers are fortified with a wide range of acquaintance, including theories such as CBT. Gentle-Genitty, Chen, Karikari, & Barnett (2014) affirms that employing theories in social work practice can help social workers establish a better treatment plan and increase a sense of security. Additionally, it helps in explaining and predicting occurrences in an individual's life (Healy, 2014). In a careful, deliberate manner, having skills of various theories and how they can be applied to various individuals as well as situations can help social workers find out and decide on a course of action with patients. Furthermore, the theories offer a framework to articulate assessments that are perfect and directly connected to the real-world difficulties that individuals present. They also guide the evaluation of the strategies, hence, presenting a correct and persuasive comprehension of the patient (Gentle-Genitty, Chen, Karikari, & Barnett, 2014). According to Turner (2017), in elucidating the problem situation, case theory forms the basis for the choice of intervention plans and approaches to attain change.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this paper explains and expounds on the benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, demonstrating its use on social work practice. In a brief explanation, Cognitive Behavioral therapy amongst other models has proven to be vital in the practice of psycho-social intervention. This article has also focused on the comparison of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with other models, including client-centered therapy and applied behavioral therapy. Finally, the paper explains how theories guide social work practice, including the areas of assessment, intervention and evaluation. Using theories in social work practice helps social workers to establish a better treatment plan and increases a sense of security.