Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Overview Target Population Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT, also referred to as Cognitive Scientific studies of CT have Therapy or CT) is a treatment that can be used with children or demonstrated its usefulness for a wide variety of mental illnesses including adults. The cognitive model proposes that the way we perceive mood, anxiety, personality, eating, sleep, situations influences how we feel emotionally. It is not a situation and psychotic disorders. Recovery that directly affects how people feel, but rather, their thoughts in Oriented CT for individuals with serious mental illness focuses on attainment of that situation. When people are in distress, their perspective is personally-set goals and engages often inaccurate and their thoughts may be unrealistic. Cognitive individuals in their own psychiatric therapy helps reduce an individual’s distress by helping them to rehabilitation. develop more balanced and realistic thoughts about self, others, and Treatment Setting the future. CT helps individuals solve their current challenges by There have been many providers and learning and practicing new skills. treatment settings trained in Cognitive Therapy, including adult and child outpatient clinics, residential treatment Core Components facilities, residential substance use programs, school-based programs, ACT  Cognitive therapy is focused on the present, is time-limited, teams, community integrated recovery and problem-solving oriented. centers and extended acute care units.  CT focuses on establishing specific treatment goals in order

to learn new patterns of thinking and develop new positive Length/Frequency of Treatment Sessions usually occur once per week and behaviors. often last about 50-60 minutes in length.  Each session will follow a similar pattern: check in, agenda In milieu settings, CT may be integrated setting, discussion of agenda items, homework assignment, into groups or other treatment related activities. Length of treatment is summary and feedback. individualized and determined in  Techniques used in sessions include: thought checking, collaboration between the individual and behavioral activation, problem solving skills, relaxation, and in vivo therapist. exposure. Referral Process CT is delivered in both outpatient settings Beck Initiative – CT Training and Implementation Support and in higher levels of care in Philadelphia. Outpatient providers The Beck Initiative is a partnership between DBHIDS and Dr. Aaron delivering CT can be accessed by calling T. Beck and his team at the University of Pennsylvania to provide those providers listed in the provider training and implementation support for CT in community settings. directory. Since 2007, The Beck Initiative has partnered with over 40 Pre-authorization from Community behavioral health providers. Through the Beck Initiative, selected Behavioral Health is required for higher providers receive an intensive CT training, weekly group levels of care. consultation for 6 months, audio review of session to qualify for Website: certification and support to develop agency capacity for ongoing www.aaronbeckcenter.org/training internal CT supervision.

Evidence-based Practice and Innovation Center (EPIC) dbhids.org/epic [email protected] CBH Member Services: 1-888-545-2600