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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Behavioural Therapy

Behavioural therapy is concerned with changing observable behaviour and is based on the concept that learnt behaviours are often reinforced throughout life.

Behavioural therapists work with the concept that individuals often repeat behaviour that is rewarded by others and decrease behaviour that is chastised. In this way, human personality traits are made up of a collection of learnt behaviours which can be changed over time using techniques to ‘recondition’ learnt behaviours.

Important behavioural psychologists include Ivan Pavlov (1849 – 1936), J B Watson (1878 – 1958) and B F Skinner (1904 – 1990).

Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive therapy is concerned with the thoughts and feelings that accompany human behaviours towards certain stimuli and the work of Albert Ellis (1913 - ) led to the creation of REBT (Rational Emotive Behavioural Technique) one of the most widely used cognitive behavioural therapies available.

CBT therapies are very useful for dealing with issues such as phobias, fears and anxieties; as they can help individuals change behaviour and find more satisfying ways to live.

CBT is not concerned with the deep seated reasons for the phobia, fear or anxiety arising in the first place, and individuals who wish to explore the root cause of their issue would be better placed to access other therapeutic approaches more concerned with identifying and understanding the source of the issue.