Difference Between Cognitive Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Therapy vs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Difference between cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy is in the methods that a counselor follows to understand a client. In Psychology and Counseling, a number of therapeutic methods are used to assist individuals to understand and influence their behavior. Cognitive Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are two such therapeutic methods. Cognitive Therapy is a specific type of therapy used by counselors to understand the behavior, thought, and emotions of a client in order to treat him. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, on the other hand, can be viewed as an umbrella term that is used for a number of therapies. This highlights that Cognitive Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are not the same but two different varieties. Through this article let us examine the differences between the two types while gaining an understanding of each therapy.

What is Cognitive Therapy?

Cognitive Therapy (CT) can be considered as a type of therapy developed by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s. It is believed to be the first psychotherapy that was subjected to clinical testing. Cognitive Therapy falls under the umbrella of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and is considered as a very effective therapy that has contributed massively to the treatment of individuals. It is a therapy that focuses on bringing about immediate change in individual behavior through paying attention to individual emotions and thoughts. The counselor and client work together in order to understand and correct maladaptive behavior.

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to comprehend the feelings and thoughts of a client in order to understand his behavior. This is used for anxiety, phobias, depression, and even addiction. It usually deals with a specific issue faced by the client. Throughout the therapy, it allows the individual to identify and change behavior that can be maladaptive. Cognitive behavioral therapy has become a very popular therapeutic method since it is effective and short term. It provides the client with the awareness to deal with problems and destructive behavior in a positive manner as it widens the understanding of the individual self.

When speaking of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, there is a wide range of therapies. Some of these therapies are Cognitive Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, and Multimodal Therapy. In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the client undergoes a number of steps at the end of which the individual can change his maladaptive behavior. As the first step, the counselor explores the problem with the client. Then concentration is on identifying the behavior that contributes to the problem. Finally, the client learns new patterns of behavior which will eventually assist to change the problematic behavior. This highlights that Cognitive Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are two different terms.

What is the difference between Cognitive Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

• Cognitive Therapy is a specific type of therapy used by counselors to understand the behavior, thought, and emotions of a client in order to treat him whereas Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an umbrella term that is used for a number of therapies.

• Cognitive Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, and Multimodal Therapy are considered as Cognitive Behavioral Therapies.

• In Cognitive Therapy, the counselor uses a cognitive model or framework, but in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy the counselor can use either a cognitive or a behavioral model.

Images Courtesy: Photo from the television program Owen Marshall:Counselor at Law and Doctor and patient via Wikicommons (Public Domain)