Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on the interactions between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. When used with children ages 6-12, CBT principles include developing a strong therapeutic relationship, collaborating with the child, focusing on problems and goals, using structured sessions, and teaching cognitive restructuring techniques. The goals of CBT are to modify problematic behaviors and thoughts, teach new skills, and improve relationships through an active, positive, and collaborative therapeutic approach tailored specifically for children.
2. Core of CBT Theory
It was developed by Dr. Aaron T. Beck
Cognitive Therapy (CT) is an active, directive, structured,
collaborative, and psychoeducational model or brief
psychotherapy
CBT is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on cognition-
thoughts and on behavior-your actions
The interactions between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
are at the core of CBT
Cognitive therapists look for patterns & connections among
events, thoughts, emotions, & behavior
3. Cognitive Therapy Concepts
Collaborative empiricism is defined as the cooperative
working relationship focused on jointly determining goals and
seeking feedback
Socratic dialogue is a type of questioning designed to
promote new learning
Guided discovery is when the counselor coaches the child
through a voyage of self-discovery in which the child does
his/her own thinking & draws their own conclusions
4. Principles to Follow
Judith Beck (1995) outlined the principles to follow with CBT
Base counseling methods on an ever-involving understanding
of the person & his or her problems in cognitive terms
Build a strong therapeutic relationship
Stress collaboration and active participation
Be goal oriented and problem focused
Try to be time-limited
Structure Sessions
Teach clients to name, evaluate, and respond to their
dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs
Use a variety of techniques to change thinking, mood and
behavior
5. Cognitive Restructuring
Thought identification and monitoring
Linking thoughts, feelings, and behavior
Challenging and changing distorted and dysfunctional
thoughts
Learning alternative ways of coping with difficult situations
6. Goals of Therapy
Modify patterns of behavior to alleviate presenting problem
Restructure dysfunctional thoughts that impact relationships
Teach clients new skills
Communication skills
Problem Solving
Negotiation
7. Therapist Characteristics
The style of the therapist:
ACTIVE
POSITIVE
COLLABORATIVE
Therapists should aim to “teach in a playful way and play in a
way that teaches,” (Garralda & Hyde, 2003)
8. Cognitive Behavior Play Therapy
(CBPT)
Application of CBPT principles to play therapy
Cognitive model of emotional disorders is based on the
interplay among cognition, emotions, behavior, and
physiology. The role of cognition must be carefully considered
for children, interventions are focused on absence of adaptive
thoughts & cognitive errors
CBT is brief and time limited
A sound therapeutic relationship is essential for CBPT
It is structured and directive
CBT uses primarily the Socratic method
9. References
Garralda, M. E., & Hyde, C. (Eds.). (2003). Managing Children
with Psychiatric Problems (2nd ed.). London : BMJ Publishing
Group.
Henderson, D. A., & Thompson, C. L. (2011). Counseling
Children (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage
Learning.
O’Connor, K. J., & Schaefer, C. E. (Eds.). (1994). Handbook of
Play Therapy: Advances and Innovations Canada: John Wiley &
Sons, Inc.