NURS 6640 Psychotherapy With Individuals week 1 – 11 discussions and assignments Week 1 Journal Entry Counseling Theory to Guide my Practice

 

The cognitive theory developed by Aaron Beck will be used to guide my practice. The focus of this theory is on how an individual’s thinking can influence and change their feelings and behaviors. Therefore, cognitive theory attempts to explain an individual’s behavior by understanding their thought process (Wampold, 2015). For instance, the cognitive theory is used by therapists to teach clients how to identify their maladaptive thought patterns and change such thoughts into constructive ones. NURS 6640 Psychotherapy With Individuals week 1 – 11 discussions and assignments. This theory is focused on problem-solving and the focus is more on the present situation of the client and distorted thinking, rather than focusing on their past (Biesecker et al, 2017). The cognitive theory assumes that thoughts determine an individual’s emotions and behavior due to the information processing process. While using cognitive theory, I will ask clients questions to identify “thoughts” of the client when they are feeling depressed or anxious and then a discussion is facilitated to examine if such thinking is a reality. Secondly, I will listen to the client empathically and with an unconditional acceptance and then ask the client to summarize the key points in order to underpin the learned aspects and have any misunderstanding addressed. Finally, I will ask the client questions that allow them to synthesize and analyze the new and more realistic perspective of their mental disturbance and hence such clients are able to restructure their thought patterns. Accordingly, the client is able to identify the maladaptive thoughts and replace them with more adaptive and positive patterns (Tougas et al, 2017). The rationale of selecting cognitive theory to guide my practice is because this theory is the basis of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and evidence shows that CBT is effective in treating symptoms of many mental health problems (Tougas et al, 2017). NURS 6640 Psychotherapy With Individuals week 1 – 11 discussions and assignments