Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Family Settings Versus Individual Settings

Week 5: Solution-Focused and Cognitive Behavioral Family Therapy

When solution-focused and cognitive behavioral family therapy proved effective with individuals, therapists began applying these approaches to families. However, it quickly became evident that the translation of these approaches from individuals to families was more difficult than expected. Consider how you can successfully apply these therapies to your client families. Is one approach more effective than the other? What are the challenges of using these therapeutic approaches with families?

This week, as you continue exploring therapeutic approaches and their appropriateness for client families, you examine solution-focused and cognitive behavioral therapy. You also develop diagnoses for clients receiving psychotherapy and consider legal and ethical implications of counseling these clients.

Discussion: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Family Settings Versus Individual Settings

Whether used with individuals or families, the goal of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is to modify client behavior. Although CBT for families is similar to CBT for individuals, there are significant differences in their applications. As you develop treatment plans, it is important that you recognize these differences and how they may impact your therapeutic approach with families. For this Discussion, as you compare the use of CBT for families and individuals, consider challenges of applying this therapeutic approach to your own client families.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

· Compare the use of cognitive behavioral therapy for families to cognitive behavioral therapy for individuals

· Analyze challenges of using cognitive behavioral therapy for families

· Recommend effective cognitive behavioral therapy strategies for families

To prepare:

· Review the media, Johnson Family Session 3, in this week’s Learning Resources and consider the insights provided on CBT in family therapy.

· Reflect on your practicum experiences with CBT in family and individual settings.

Write an explanation of how the use of CBT in families compares to CBT in individual settings.

Provide specific examples from your own practicum experiences.

Then, explain challenges counselors might encounter when using CBT in the family setting. Support your position with specific examples from this week’s media.