What is CBT?
“Automatic thoughts are a stream of thinking that coexists with a more manifest stream of thought (Beck, 1964).” (Beck, 2020, p. 422). These thoughts perhaps occur from a response to a trigger that is usually outside a person’s awareness. Patients with mental illness typically have automatic thoughts that are maladaptive, irrational, and harmful to their emotions and behavior (Beck, 2020).
Intermediate beliefs are beliefs often composed of rules, attitudes, and assumptions. Patients will often categorize this information based on how they respond to the world and use these beliefs to guide their thoughts and behaviors (Beck, 2020).
Core beliefs are global ideas about oneself, others, and the world. These beliefs are central to what people identify about themselves, others, and their environment. Individuals with maladaptive core beliefs often incorporate negative truths about themselves, and these principles tend to dictate negative behavior patterns (Beck, 2020).
The interrelationship between automatic thoughts, intermediate beliefs, and core beliefs often starts with automatic thoughts. Automatic thoughts are usually brief and couple with an emotion. Clients may feel negative emotions but be unaware of the automatic thought. For example, when a patient forgets to do their homework, they may feel guilty, and as a result have an automatic thought to themselves saying, “I am lazy.”
Intermediate beliefs affirm those negative automatic thoughts by creating rules for the patient. For example, the patient may then think to themselves, “If I try to be successful, I will fail.” The patient’s core belief might, in turn, be that they think of themselves as a failure and that they cannot do anything right. Therefore, there is a sequence of emotions that fuels thoughts and creates maladaptive beliefs and behavior. The function of cognitive behavioral therapy is to help the client have more awareness of these negative patterns and shift themselves to implement positive automatic thoughts that reinforce positive beliefs and actions (Beck, 2020).
Why Use CBT for Mental and Physical Wellness?
- The battle starts in the brain. Clients who dwell on more positive thoughts about themselves create beneficial belief patterns that lead to healthy behaviors such as wellness for nutrition, sleep, and exercise.
- CBT is used to treat bipolar disorder, PTSD, eating disorder, anxiety, depression, ADHD, phobias, and help with substance abuse. By going through a specific treatment plan, clients can build confidence by collaborating with a mental health professional and tackling their mental and emotional dysregulation.
Talk with a mental health professional about the benefits of CBT and if it may be helpful for you.
Beck, J. S. (2020). Cognitive Therapy Basics and Beyond (3rd ed). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
