The Benefits Of Cognitive Therapy

My perspective of life is that we all have a purpose. As we all try to find our own purpose, we experience how to live life. Some seek happiness, money, fame, or power in order to feel their purpose has been fulfilled. However, such things do not shape who we become. It is our experiences that teach us how to interact, behave, view the world, and cope with happiness, sadness, accomplishments, and disappointments. One can only act on what was learned, seen, heard, and taught. I believe that we are not just a product of our environment, but can decide what path to take ourselves. Our thoughts, behaviors, and actions shape us as human beings. The environment is not the only factor that shape our life experiences, but also the way we think, behave, …show more content…
370). The focus of the therapy is for the counselor to help a client understand his or her distorted beliefs and use techniques to help them change such maladaptive views (Sharf, 2012, p. 370). Overall, the focus converts into helping remove biases or distorted thinking clients have so that they may function more effectively (Sharf, 2012, p. 379). However, the reason why cognitive therapy is so appealing to me is because is based on creating a positive relationship with all clients. In cognitive therapy, the counselor works together with the client in order to help their change their maladaptive thinking patterns and behaviors that interfere with the client’s goal (Sharf, 2012l p.379). Cognitive therapy has a big emphasis in having a positive caring relationship with clients. I believe that in order to be successful with any client, a caring relationship that is established from building rapport and trust is needed. Cognitive therapy sees that as very essential in order to work with a client. One skill of cognitive therapy that I find very useful is self-monitoring. With this method, counselors ask the client to assess their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors when not in session (Sharf, 2012, p. 382). Clients note things that happen and then bring it into sessions. I believe that self-monitoring is a very useful tool that allows the client to practice helpful techniques and even monitor their own progress. There is also the technique of guided discovery. Guided discovery uses previous information the client has shared to challenge those beliefs and discover new ways of thinking (Sharf, 2012, p. 385). With such technique, one is able to help the client find new ways to think about previous events or situations he or she shared. Self-monitoring and guided discovery were techniques that I always thought should be used