Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and the related approach of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy are popular and often effective approaches in the treatment of depression. Depression is characterized by thoughts of helplessness and hopelessness.
Early on in my career I worked with a client who was depressed because he could not get any dates and thought he would be alone and lonely for the rest of his life. Turned out he was telling himself that if he approached a girl she would surely reject him (negatively predicting) and if that happened it would be awful (“catastrophizing”), so he largely avoided approaching women and it became a self fulfilling prophecy.
In working with him he came to understand that rejection was not an awful thing although it was disappointing but if he approached and interacted with enough women, something would eventually click. After a few sessions, he agreed to go to a dance club and ask a number of women to dance, even though he was anxious. The idea was he would get a number of rejections and practice telling himself “no big deal” and continue the process until he was less anxious. As it turned out, the first girl he asked to dance said yes and they ended up talking and dancing the entire time and they made a date for the following weekend. The idea that he was helpless was change by his proactive action and the hopelessness was changed by finding “success” in getting a date. As a result, his mood changed and he felt better about himself.
By changing thoughts and behavior, feelings change.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy teaches both emotional and practical skills to help individuals think, feel and behave more effectively.
For more information about how Cognitive Behavior Therapy might be of help to you, contact Dr.Robert Heller at 561 251-9768 or e-mail drrobertheller@gmail.com.
