Evidence Based Psychotherapy.

therapy

Cognitive therapy.

Even though it is now somewhat of a buzz phrase cognitive therapy is not a new concept. There are two main ways to define ‘evidence based’ the first one being that the approach to a therapy is emphasised by pursuing the evidence on which the techniques and theories of the therapy are based. This also actively encourages clients or patients to consider any evidence before they take action. The second way to define it is by taking an approach to the therapy that is supported by the findings of extensive research and proving that it is effective.

Patients who are frequently in suffering from severe distress are making huge personal commitments when they embark on these therapies, and certainly have the right to know whether they are safe or not and how effective they are. While it has been proven over the years that psychological therapies do reap benefits for patients, there is evidence that mental health can actually deteriorate should an inappropriate therapy be used or if the correct therapy is delivered incompetently.

Cognitive therapy

By far, the most popular method of evidence based psychotherapy is cognitive therapy. This is a psychological treatment that concentrates on the human emotions and how they are influenced by attitudes, beliefs and thoughts. Now a major treatment for depression, anger management, panic and many other psychological problems, proven results have more people exploring the world of cognitive therapy than ever before.

First employed by a US psychiatrist named Aaron T Black back in the 1960’s, cognitive therapy is word based treatment that encourages the sufferer to discuss their worries and anxieties with a neutral third party. Many suffer in silence as they don’t want to burden their loved ones with their problems, or simply cannot put their problems into words, having a haven where they can talk freely with guaranteed privacy is imperative.

The premise behind cognitive therapy is simple; a sufferer will discuss their problems. Many clients have reported just being able to let the words out regarding what is troubling them as a liberation, and once they are verbalised the problem seems easier to overcome.