The Cognitive Approach to Treating Depression

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT):

Challenging Irrational Thoughts:

Ellis extended his ABC model to the ABCDEF where:

A is the activating event

B is the belief - this can either be rational or irrational

C is the consequence of the belief - this can either be rational or irrational

D refers to disrupting rational thoughts or beliefs

E stands for the effects of disputing and effective attitude to life

F is the new feelings that are produced 

However, it is not the activating event that causes unproductive consequences, it's the beliefs that lead to the self-defeating consequences. REBT or CBT therefore focuses on challenging or disputing the irrational thoughts or beliefs and replacing them with effective, rational beliefs. For example:

Effective disputing changes self-defeating beliefs into more rational beliefs. This helps the client to feel better and eventually become more self-accepting.

Homework:

Clients are often asked to complete assignments in between therapy sessions. This could include asking a person on a date when they may have been to scared to do so due to their fear of rejection, looking for a new job, asking friends to tell them what they really think about the person and so on. Such homework is vital in testing irrational beliefs against reality and putting new rational beliefs into practice.

Behavioural Action:

CBT encourages clients to become more active and take part in…