Describe cognitive treatment approaches to therapy and, in particular, rational-emotive behavior therapy.
What will be an ideal response?
Students' examples may vary.
The answer should contain the following information:
Cognitive treatment approaches teach people to think in more adaptive ways by changing their dysfunctional cognitions about the world and about themselves. Unlike behavior therapists, who focus on modifying external behavior, cognitive therapists attempt to change the way people think as well as their behavior. Because they often use basic principles of learning, the methods they employ are sometimes referred to as the cognitive-behavioral approach.
One good example of cognitive therapy is rational-emotive behavior therapy. Rational-emotive behavior therapy attempts to restructure a person's belief system into a more realistic, rational, and logical set of views. By adopting more accurate thought patterns, it is assumed that people will lead more psychologically healthy lives.
Building on these views, psychologist Albert Ellis suggests that many people lead unhappy lives and suffer from psychological disorders because they harbor irrational, unrealistic ideas such as the following:
a) We need the love or approval of virtually every significant other person for everything we do.
b) We should be thoroughly competent, adequate, and successful in all possible respects in order to consider ourselves worthwhile.
c) It is horrible when things don't turn out the way we want them to.
Such irrational beliefs trigger negative emotions, which in turn support the irrational beliefs, and lead to a self-defeating cycle.
Rational-emotive behavior therapy aims to help clients eliminate maladaptive thoughts and beliefs and adopt more effective thinking. To accomplish this goal, therapists take an active, directive role during therapy, openly challenging patterns of thought that appear to be dysfunctional.
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Experts predict that in the future less therapy will be provided by psychiatrists and clinical psychologists with more therapy being provided by master's-level practitioners and by self-help groups run by paraprofessionals. In addition, there will be a greater use of short-term therapy and solution-focused, problem-solving approaches rather than insight-oriented therapies. Which of the following
is NOT a reason for these changes? a. With pressures to reduce the cost of mental health services, psychiatrists and clinical psychologists are more expensive. b. Research shows that self-help groups and master's-level practitioners provide better care for clients than do psychiatrists and clinical psychologists. c. There are currently too few psychiatrists and clinical psychologists to take on primary responsibility in all mental health cases. d. Insight-oriented therapies, in particular psychoanalysis, take longer and are more expensive.
What chemical contained in most over-the-counter sleeping pills is responsible for inducing drowsiness?
a) alcohol b) caffeine c) antihistamine d) acetaminophen
Name a benefit of regular sexual practice for the elderly
What will be an ideal response?
What do your authors suggest that you do as you read an article in psychology?
A) Read with an inquiring mind B) Develop a system based for skimming the material C) Take periodic breaks so not to become overwhelmed D) Read the summary beforehand to see if you need to read the whole article