Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

The modality I have found that works best for an eclectic approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as it allows a clinician the flexibility to add outside strategies and change approaches as needed. CBT is also “applicable to a wide range of personal and social problems” (Sheldon & Ebrary, 2011, p. i) including depression and PTSD, which allows for wide use in the populations I work within. CBT is an evidence based psychological approach that allows an individual to examine their thinking patterns, emotional reactions and behaviors in a rational way, to ensure that those patterns are not negatively impacting their life (Sheldon & Ebrary, 2011). CBT also allows individuals the freedom to try out new approaches in a “stepwise fashion”, while also encouraging the monitoring and evaluation of said approaches as means of learning about their impacts on thinking patterns, emotional reactions and behaviors (Sheldon & Ebrary, 2011, p. 3).  Effectively, CBT allows a clinician to guide an individual through practical approaches while focusing on the present. This approach provides clients with a way to see how their thinking, behaviors and emotions impact each other (Briers, 2015). CBT encourages individual introspection to discover patterns of irrational and self-destructive thoughts and behaviors that can impact one's emotions in a negative way (Briers, 2015). Once an individual is aware of the interconnectedness of thoughts, emotions and behaviors, they are able to break negative cycles and use practical strategies to supplement more positive thoughts, behaviors and emotions (Briers, 2015).