NYCBT Practice Procedures Overview
Initial Evaluation
The initial step in beginning cognitive
behavioral therapy is a comprehensive
evaluation. A diagnostic interview
and questionnaires that assess various
symptoms and problems will be completed
over the course of two to three
appointments. The information gathered
evaluates depression, anxiety and
fears, anger, physical complaints,
relationships, personality, stressors,
coping and communication styles.
The specific situations and relationships
that cause you difficulty will also
be reviewed. The cognitive behavioral
approach focuses on learning the
types of thoughts and beliefs you
have that may not be beneficial,
what behaviors you engage in that
are rewarding or punitive to yourself
and others and your style of communicating
and listening. The goal of the initial
evaluation is to obtain sufficient
information to understand your problems
and difficulties, define your strengths,
and develop a comprehensive treatment
plan.
Treatment Plan
A treatment plan will be developed collaboratively with the client. The determinants of the plan include your diagnosis, current problems and how they developed and are maintained, your goals, and the skills you need to acquire to change the manner in which you think, behave and communicate with others. The frequency of appointments and the relevance of medication will also be discussed. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on how you are thinking, behaving, and communicating in the present and future rather than targeting your early childhood experiences. However, cognitive behavioral therapy values past experiences and personal history as an important source of information in conceptualizing current problems.
Therapy Sessions
Cognitive behavioral therapy sessions are typically 50 minutes. Therapy sessions are structured as the overall objective is to solve problems. Thus, sessions have an agenda that characteristically contains a review of the previous session and the homework assignment for the past week, current problems, learning a new skill and applying this technique and other cognitive behavioral methods to a recent difficulty, summarizing the session and creating a new homework assignment to be completed before the next appointment. In order for the client to improve most efficiently and effectively, the individual must practice what is learned in session in their daily life as a means of establishing new skills and behaviors. Thus cognitive behavioral therapy encourages the individual to be self-reliant through achieving an increased sense of competency and self-esteem.
|
