1. NCFE Level 3 Diploma in Counselling Skills
Lesson 14
NCFE Level 3 Diploma in Counselling Skills

2. Learning Objectives Back ground information on Aaron Beck
Background information on Albert Ellis
Differences between Beck and Ellis
Basics of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Importance of thoughts
Irrational thought-patterns
General assumptions within CBT
Automatic thoughts (and underlying assumptions and core- beliefs)

3. Dr. Aaron T. Beck Born in 1921 as the youngest of 5 children.
Studied psychoanalytical studies, but later
deviated from that significantly, as he recognized the importance of clients’ thoughts.
Developed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in the 1960s, which view is that distorted thoughts lead to problematic behaviours.

4. Main concepts CBT
Therapy is a collaborative project between client and counsellor
Structured form of therapy
Problem-solving or symptom-reduction approach
Practice is informed by research
Highly active therapist style
Focussed on the ‘here-and-now’. Looks at childhood experiences, but more to assist in the here-and-now.
Westbrook et al. (2011)
3 theoretical principles of CBT by Dobson and Dozois (2001)
Cognitive activity affects behaviour
Cognitive activity may be monitored and altered
Desired behaviour change may be affected through cognitive change

5. Albert Ellis Born in 1913 as the eldest of 3 children
in a Jewish family in New York.
His father was frequently absent and his mother was neglectful and emotionally and physically unavailable for her children.
He was seriously ill for much of his childhood and was hospitalized for long periods of time with infrequent parental visits.
Ellis has described how he responded to this neglect by reframing it as an opportunity to develop autonomy and independence.
Developed REBT in mid 1950s.

6. Main concepts REBT
It is our thinking, our beliefs about the events related to our emotions that causes the disturbances, such as anxiety and depression.
An active-directive and solution-focussed method.
Educational method that teaches the client how to identify the irrational thought, to forcefully and emotionally dispute them and replace them with a more rational thought.
Therapist actively challenges the client on self-defeating thoughts.
Looks at unconditional self-acceptance, rather than ‘shoulds’ and ‘musts’.
Developed the ABC – Model.

7. REBT - The 3 major absolutic musts
1. “I must achieve outstandingly well in one or more important respects or I am an inadequate person!” 2. “Other people must treat me fairly and well or they are bad people!” 3. “Conditions must be favourable or else my life is rotten and I can’t stand it!” The difference between a strong desire, which is usually life enhancing, and a rigid demand, which is often destructive.

8. Comparisons between Beck & Ellis
Both started their career in psychoanalysts.
Both became dissatisfied with psychoanalytic methods, and focussed more on clients’ thoughts.
REBT challenges the client more aggressively on different ways of thinking. CBT would explore the situation and look at the evidence for and against a thought.
CBT is more foccused on thoughts, REBT on behaviour and choices.
See articles by Padesky and Ellis for many more details.

9. Scenario: What are our thoughts?
You’re walking down the street... Write down your thoughts.

10. The ABC-Model Activating Event
Beliefs about the adversities as well as about yourself
Consequences: Emotions, physical sensations and behaviour

11. 3 categories of Thoughts
1. Automatic thoughts: Quick thoughts that can occur all throughout the day. “I can’t do it.” “I am ugly.” “I am good at this.”
2. Underlying assumptions: “If ..., then ...”-thoughts.
“If I get angry with people, they will hate me.”
3. Core Beliefs: Absolute beliefs about ourselves, others, or the world around us. “I am worthless.”

12. Recognizing automatic thoughts
Situation: Your friend doesn’t wave at you.
Automatic thoughts: “She doesn’t like me.”
Questions that can help:
What was going through my mind just before I started to feel this way? (general)
What images or memories do I have in this situation? (General)
What does this mean about me? My Life? My future? (Depression)
What am I afraid might happen? (Anxiety)
What is the worst that could happen? (Anxiety)
What does this mean about how the other person(s) feel(s)/ think(s) about me? (Anger, Shame)
What does this mean about the other person(s) or people in general?
Did I break rules, hurt others, or not do something I should have done? What do I think about myself that I did this or believe I did this? (Guilt, Shame)
From Mind over Mood, Second Edition. Copyright 2016 by Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. Padesky.

13. What are your “distorted automatic thoughts”?

14. Did we cover this? Back ground information on Aaron Beck
Background information on Albert Ellis
Differences between Beck and Ellis
Basics of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Importance of thoughts
Irrational thought-patterns
General assumptions within CBT
Automatic thoughts (and underlying assumptions and core- beliefs)

15. Closing