Holt Academy

Cognitive Behavioural Services

Client Information

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Problems Suitable For CBT
Learning Theory
Classical Learning
Development

In this section we provide some more detailed information about a range of subjects including what precisely CBT is and what are some of the basic treatment strategies we use.

We also look at some of the more common anxiety and mood disorders that respond well to CBT.

What Is CBT?

Introduction

One definition of psychotherapy describes it as “an interpersonal process designed to bring about modifications of feelings, cognitions, attitudes and behaviour which have proved troublesome to the person seeking help from a trained professional”

Using this definition it is possible to describe a wide range of interventions as psychotherapeutic; indeed Kazdin in 1986 identified over 400 different therapies!

In 1996, Roth and Fonagy categorised these into 6 broad classes, including:

• Psychodynamic psychotherapy
• Behavioural and cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy
• Interpersonal psychotherapy
• Strategic or systemic psychotherapy
• Supportive and experiential psychotherapy
• Group therapy

The roots of the cognitive behavioural approach lie in the combination of the clinical application of learning theories, including classical, operant and social learning (behaviour therapy) with the cognitive model developed in the 1960’s by Aaron T. Beck at the University of Pennsylvania.