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A.

Cognitive therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on a person's beliefs and expectations. The patient or client modifies their thinking in order to modify their emotions or change self-defeating behaviors.

Aaron Beck from the University of Pennsylvania is one of the founders of cognitive therapy. Albert Ellis was also a major contributor to the field. Ellis' approach consists of the following model:

• A - Activating Event - something happens. For example, you discover that someone you know and like does not like you.
• B - Belief or expectation - often "irrational" such as the belief "Everyone should like me."
• C - Challenge the Belief - Ask yourself if it is reasonable.
• D - Dispute the belief. Replace it with a more reasonable version such as "I like for people to like me, but I realize that some people won't."

By modifying extreme or irrational beliefs we can greatly reduce the emotional distress in our life. A cognitively-oriented therapist can assist in this process, since it's not always possible to see our own irrational beliefs.

Last updated 1/23/06