Posted by Dinah on January 1, 2004, at 15:15:35
In reply to Re: psychoanalysis vs. CBT, posted by Gypsymoon on December 31, 2003, at 22:46:36
Cognitive Behavior Therapy attempts to change your dysfunctional thoughts (as per Emmy's list) and behaviors.
In the case of thoughts, you might be asked to keep a diary of the times you got upset during the week, what you were thinking, and how those thoughts might be overgeneralizations, black or white thinking, or whatever. Then you challenge the thoughts to show how they're not actually correct. The behavioral component addresses your actual behaviors rather than your thoughts. So if you are afraid to go on a plane, for example, you might be exposed first to the idea of going on a plane then all the way to actually taking a trip.
As you learn to cope better, and are better able to meet your needs in your life and in relationships, your depression might lift.
If you find that you have a lot of the types of thoughts that you found on that list, you might want to look into finding a CBT therapist or at the very least reading one of the many CBT books and workbooks.
poster:Dinah
thread:291847
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20031221/msgs/295434.html