Role of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Treating Low Mood
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a technique based on the connection of thoughts, behavior, and feelings. In this paper, the success of cognitive behavioral therapy depends on a therapist identifying the causes of specific negative thoughts that lead to low moods. More importantly, a therapist can apply its concepts to understand mental challenges of patients. There however, needs to the collaboration between the therapist and the patient. According to Sjöberg et al., (2020), therapists need to identify a pattern of inconsistency after observing their patients. Treating low moods using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is successful when a therapist comprehends a patients’ thought process and behavioral patterns.
Definition of Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of therapy where a professional therapist identifies any problems and challenges that lead to an individual displaying problematic behaviors and emotional responses. According to Henter et al., (2017), cognitive behavioral therapy utilizes both verbal skills and behavioral theories to help develop an understanding of what leads to distorted thinking of affected individuals. It is prudent that the patient works closely with the therapist to identify the cause of the problem (Bruijniks et al., 2018). Cognitive therapy was developed by an American psychiatrist Aaron Beck and is regarded as one of the best therapeutic approaches that lead to helping individuals comprehend their internal struggles that often explode outwardly as distressful emotional and negative behavioral responses (Fleming et al., 2018). All in all, cognitive behavioral therapy is based on the cognitive model that states that the understanding of inner thoughts and feelings leads to overcoming behavioral challenges and difficulties displayed by individuals with low moods. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Definition of Low Mood
The proper understanding of how cognitive therapy can be used to treat low mood depends on professionals comprehending its causes. According to Henter et al. (2017), low mood is described as a condition that is triggered by stresses, for instance, financial worries, conflicts with other people, disappointments, and lack of achieving set goals and objectives. In this case, low mood is considered a temporary condition that can be addressed using the appropriate therapeutic approaches. The use of cognitive therapy is one of the most effective techniques that can be used to combat low moods since a therapist will seek to understand the causes of certain moods and behaviors (Fleming et al., 2018). The use of cognitive therapy will help identify any signs of low moods and the appropriate measures to be taken by a professional. In this light, it is vital to list some of the behavioral traits and emotional responses that an individual affected by low mood displays.
There are different signs and emotional responses shown by an individual with low moods. According to Hawley et al. (2017), people affected by low moods will display certain behaviors that include physical and mental exhaustion, lack of appetite, distracted, restless, and lack the motivation to perform their daily duties. In addition, one of the most common signs of an individual with a low mood will display withdrawing socially and from family. According to Hawley et al., (2017), the affected people will also have uncontrolled tempers and may be confused for psychological illness. However, it is vital to comprehend that people with low moods are not permanently affected but instead tend to display their current emotional state and, with the correct therapy technique, can be effectively treated professionally.
Strengths of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a technique that incorporates a hands-on approach to solve a prevalent problem involving negative behavioral changes. According to Sjöberg (2020), the purpose of cognitive-behavioral therapy is changing the pattern of thinking for the people affected by mental difficulties affecting their behavior. In this case, the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy to address low moods can be considered effective due to the strengths associated with the technique. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a practical approach that involves a psychotherapy treatment to determine the changes in the thinking pattern. A practical approach consists of a therapist identifying the difficulties an individual experiences (Hawley et al., 2017). For instance, in case a person may have difficulty sleeping, drug and alcohol problem, depression, and anxiety or relationship problems. All these problems are considered the cause of low moods and changes in attitude as well as behavior. According to Henter et al., (2017), the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy will help identify a change in thought patterns, beliefs, attitudes, and views regarding challenging situations. Psychologists and therapy professionals believe that an individual is influenced by different internal processes that affect their overall behavior leading to emotional problems.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered effective since it can be used to treat both short-term and long-term ailments affecting the emotional state and behavior of affected people. For the short term, cognitive behavioral therapy can take 1 to 5 months while it can take up to 12 months for the long term emotional ailments (Fleming et al., 2018). In this case, an individual can attend one session per week with each lasting up to 1 hour, According to Fleming et al., (2018), this is enough time for a professional counselor to determine any changes mentally leading to distressful behavior changes. It is, however, imperative that patients collaborate closely with the therapists to develop the needed strategies to address any changes in their moods. This can be achieved through cognitive behavioral therapy introducing principles that patients can follow to resolve any problems and challenges they may face (Sjöberg et al., 2020). All in all, the cognitive behavioral therapy approaches can be used by patients throughout their lives.
Weaknesses of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is recorded to have a high success rate since it combines both behavioral therapy and psychotherapy. According to Hawley et al. (2017), combining both of these behavioral techniques might compromise the results obtained from cognitive behavioral therapy. In this case, a therapist might fail to identify changes in attitude and behavior as well. The treatment of low moods is not effective when cognitive behavioral therapy is combined with other therapeutic approaches. A psychologist must understand the difference between using cognitive behavioral therapy to treat depression and treating low moods (Hawley et al., 2017). This is another weakness since the wrong approach to manage low moods will not yield the needed results. To avoid these weaknesses, a therapist must identify the relationship between the behavior and thought processes of their patients. In this way, a therapist can ensure that cognitive-behavioral therapy incorporated leads to success in treating low moods.
The rationale of Cognitive behavioral therapy
The purpose of cognitive-behavioral therapy is identifying the origin of negative thoughts, which often lead to an individual having low moods. An individual must identify the source of negative thoughts since this helps determine the best and most appropriate approach to treating low moods (Bruijniks et al., 2018). In this case, the therapist can determine the best technique to manage low moods. In essence, cognitive behavioral therapy helps to understand what is going on inside the head of affected individuals. Not only is cognitive behavioral therapy used to treat low moods, but it is also used to treat depression. Depression can occur as a result of continued low moods that occur daily (Henter et al., 2017). The essence of a therapist understanding how depression works depends on the thinking patterns of their patients. As noted earlier, the success of cognitive behavioral therapy depends on the incorporation of all parties involved. All in all, the implementation of the cognitive behavioral therapy technique depends on professional; behavioral observation techniques to identify the cause of low moods.
Recommendations of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
The functionality of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) depends on a therapist identifying the causes of negative thoughts that lead to low moods. In this case, it is recommended that a therapist know their roles well to help treat the patient. Notably so, implementing a behavioral therapy technique involves the patient understanding their negative thoughts and why they occur (Sjöberg et al., 2020). Also, the patient needs to understand that having these negative thoughts and low moods should not determine their overall outcome and that they can change their circumstances through positive thoughts. It is recommended that therapists use cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help patients become aware of their thoughts. A therapist can thus teach these patients the best way to overcome their negative thoughts and generally improve their thoughts. It is vital to note that a change in attitude leads to a subsequent shift in behavior (Bruijniks et al., 2018). On this note, it is significant to note that many people suffer from low moods as well as depression hence the need for successful cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.
Conclusion
To conclude, the correct implementation of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps treat people with low moods. This, however, depends on the therapist learning how to identify low moods. As such, the relevant nurse practitioner is required to comprehend the symptoms of low mood. The treatment of low moods is common for therapists since most people suffer from it, and when not treated on time, it leads to depression. The treatment of low moods can be the incorporation of small life changes like reading a positive quote each day to exercising, which takes a minimum of 3 months to 24 months. As such, a professional must make the correct assessment after meeting a patient. All in all, the success of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is not based on assumptions, but the proper professional evaluation of patients suffering from negative thoughts.
References
Bruijniks, S. J., Sijbrandij, M., Schlinkert, C., & Huibers, M. J. (2018). Isolating therapeutic procedures to investigate mechanisms of change in cognitive behavioral therapy for depression. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 9(4), 2043808718800893.
Fleming, T., Bavin, L., Lucassen, M., Stasiak, K., Hopkins, S., & Merry, S. (2018). Beyond the trial: a systematic review of real-world uptake and engagement with digital self-help interventions for depression, low mood, or anxiety. Journal of medical Internet research, 20(6), e199.
Hawley, L. L., Padesky, C. A., Hollon, S. D., Mancuso, E., Laposa, J. M., Brozina, K., & Segal, Z. V. (2017). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression using mind over mood: CBT skill use and differential symptom alleviation. Behavior therapy, 48(1), 29-44.
Henter, I. D., de Sousa, R. T., Gold, P. W., Brunoni, A. R., Zarate Jr, C. A., & Machado-Vieira, R. (2017). Mood therapeutics: novel pharmacological approaches for treating depression. Expert review of clinical pharmacology, 10(2), 153-166.
Sjöberg, L., Fratiglioni, L., Lövdén, M., & Wang, H. X. (2020). Low mood and risk of dementia: the role of marital status and living situation. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28(1), 33-44.