Cognitive Therapy in Action

Recommended Prerequisites

It is advisable that the students have prior background knowledge in the fields of Psychopahtology and Clinical and Health Psychology. 

Teaching Methods

Expositive, interrogative and active method, large group discussion, use of audio-visuals for the projection diagrams with topics of the contents taught. 

Role-play and simulation exercises to develop assessment and intervention skills. 

Learning Outcomes

The aims of the UC are: (1) address the development of cognitive therapies, focusing on the integration of interpersonal and emotional processes in the state of the art of cognitive therapy; (2) to go through the most important cognitive techniques, in a format of practical application, to several clinical disorders, and (3) to deepen the role of emotional processing (model of emotional schemas) and its relationship with psychopathology.

Skills to be developed:

1. Integration of the components involved in the process of cognitive psychotherapy: therapeutic relationship (emotional validation), socialization with the cognitive perspective of psychopathology, formulation and the different types of cognitive techniques;

2. Acquisition of practical skills of correct and fluid execution of the most used cognitive techniques, and evaluation of their relative usefulness depending on the variables of the patient and the problem in question.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Evolution of cognitive therapies: a) the appreciation of interpersonal aspects; b) emotional activation as a fundamental aspect in the change of meaning, and c) the mechanisms of change in Cognitive Therapies.

2. The process of cognitive psychotherapy: a) Socialization of the patient with the cognitive model; b) Explanation to the patient of the various types of "B" and the temporal diversity in which they may occur in relation to "A"; c) The "B's" as an internal process (e.g., performance expectations, etc.); d) Elaboration of the cognitive map.

3. Application of cognitive techniques: a) Counter-argumentation techniques with emotional activation (eg, hard counterattack, pressure for change); Use of cognitive dissonance in psychotherapy for modification of beliefs; (c) Counseling techniques for mild counter-argumentation without emotional activation (e.g., anti-catastrophic practice, percetual change) and d) Emotional processing techniques (e.g., mental image rephrasing).

Head Lecturer(s)

Paula Cristina Oliveira Castilho Freitas

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Frequency: 50.0%
Exam: 50.0%

Bibliography

Leahy, R. (2017). Cognitive therapy techniques, second edition: A practitioner's guide. New York: The Guilford Press.

 

Gillihan, S. J. (2018). Cognitive behavioral therapy made simple: 10 strategies for managing anxiety, depression, anger, panic, and worry. Emeryville, CA: Althea Press

 

Shapiro, L. (2019). Cognitive behavioral therapy worksheets: 65+ ready-to-use CBT worksheets to motivate change, practice new behaviors & regulate emotion. Eau Claire, WI: PESI Publishing & Media

 

Branch. R., & Wilson, R. (2010). Cognitive behavioural therapy for dummies. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley and Sons

 

Farmer, R. F., & Chapman. A. (2016). Behavioral interventions in cognitive behavior therapy: Practical guidance for putting theory into action. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

 

Leahy, R. (2015). Emotional schema therapy. New York: The Guilford Publications