Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
6
The Cogn
itive Therapist
M. Olivetti Belardinelli, B. Turella, and M. J. Scherer
CONTENTS
6.1 Cognitive Therapy ............................................................................................................. 107
6.2 The Cognitive Therapist ................................................................................................... 110
6.3 Cognitive Therapy With Individuals Having Cognitive Disability ........................... 114
6.4 Cognitive Rehabilitation ................................................................................................... 115
6.5 Assistive and Cognitive Support Technologies ............................................................. 116
6.6 Case Study .......................................................................................................................... 121
6.6.1 A Real-Life Example of a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor's
Solution-Seeking for James, Who Has Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease .... 121
6.6.2 MPT Survey Results and Assessment Analysis ................................................ 122
6.6.3 Research, Implementation, and Recommendations ......................................... 123
6.7 Conclusions ......................................................................................................................... 125
Summary of the Chapter ............................................................................................................ 125
References ..................................................................................................................................... 126
6.1 Cognitive Therapy
The origins of cognitive therapy are generally grounded in behavioral therapies. This is
true when we consider the original modalities of the behavioral therapies. However, in the
frame of the cognitive therapy panorama, we find that it is important now for therapists to
consider behavior within a psychodynamic frame.
Behavioral therapy started in the 1940s and 1950s using the conditioning techniques
envisaged by Pavlov for human behavior. On this basis, some authors explained human
behavior by means of mediators, defined as intervening variables of a biological basis
or cognitive type able to interact with antecedents through conditioning to particular
consequences. The paradigm of instrumental conditioning afforded the possibility of
modifying human behavior. In the first years behavioral modifications were obtained in
situations in which it was easy to manipulate the environmental variables, or with subjects
characterized with “cognitive simplicity,” such as children, psychotics, and “generically
disabled people.” Afterward, neuroses, emotional problems, and behaviors connected
with anxiety and depression were faced.
The name behavioral therapy was given by Lazarus to contrast it with the contemporary
psychodynamic therapies. Lazarus based his approach on learning experience and
conditioning principles.
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