| Cognitive behavioral therapy has a lot of research | | | | you will feel annoyed at not being fit enough. Or |
| behind it. Because of this very large call for | | | | maybe you will feel confident about how fit you |
| cognitive behavioral therapists to work from | | | | are. More than likely if you do extend yourself a |
| government administered health services. This | | | | little, you will feel relaxed and happy after your |
| article will briefly cover the cognitive behavioral | | | | body releases some endorphins. This is borderline |
| therapy model so the reader can apply it to any | | | | belonging in the next category though. |
| life situation of their choosing. | | | | Physiology. Physiology refers to the state of the |
| It may be useful to have a pen and paper to | | | | body. The biochemistry at the smaller level and |
| hand. At the top of the piece of paper you can | | | | physical sensation and the macro-universe of the |
| draw a box. You can label the box life situation, | | | | body at larger levels. We've already mentioned |
| problem or challenge. | | | | endorphins. Aches and pains may be manifest if |
| In the cognitive behavioral therapy model they | | | | we have an injury or chronic illness for example. |
| are basically four modalities which need to be | | | | Can you imagine how your physiology effects |
| explored in order to find solutions. In this way it is | | | | your thoughts and feelings - and your behaviors. |
| a holistic therapy because it attempts looks at the | | | | Of course they are all interrelated. |
| person as a whole being rather than as having a | | | | If a person has broken a bone in their body, their |
| problem that needs to be fixed. | | | | behavior will be different, correct? They will likely |
| Drawing a line down from the challenge box, you | | | | not be so able for a while. Without support, they |
| can draw the thinking box. Thinking box refers to | | | | might feel low about it (feelings) perhaps because |
| what you are thinking - your thoughts surrounding | | | | they are having thoughts like "this is never going |
| the situation you are working on. If it is a habit | | | | to get better." At the same time their physiology |
| for example that you want to change, you look | | | | will adapt to the lowered exercise of those |
| at what you are thinking during acting out on that | | | | muscles - and may require physiotherapy to help |
| habit and around it. You may find that beliefs | | | | their physiology. Can you think of more ways the |
| come up here. | | | | four aspects of the model might be effected. |
| Thinking is aspect one in cognitive behavioural | | | | The "magic" of CBT is that therapists recognise |
| therapy. Some personal development speakers | | | | that by changing any of the four areas after |
| say that "change your thinking and you change | | | | examining what is actually going on, the outcome |
| your life." The Buddha said "all that we are arises | | | | of the situation can be changed rapidly. The most |
| from our thoughts". The better doctors today | | | | common area to focus on changing is the |
| recognise that 80% of illness is psychosomatic | | | | behavior. It is easier for us to change what we |
| and arises in the mind as our thoughts. Our | | | | do. However, it is possible to change our thoughts, |
| thoughts are intimately linked with the other parts | | | | too - to develop positive self talk for example, |
| of the model. | | | | think more positively, to change our diet |
| Behaviors. Behavior is the "doing" aspect of the | | | | (physiology and behavior), and to focus on things |
| model. What do you do? What are your actions? | | | | that make us feel good by visualization for |
| What specific behavior are you examining? Our | | | | example. |
| thoughts effect our behavior and our behavior | | | | With the above description, it is hoped you can |
| can effect our thoughts, so an interlinking line can | | | | draw up a CBT chart and apply CBT to |
| be drawn connecting the two. Behavior is how | | | | something that you want to change in your own |
| you act as either a result of your | | | | life. This is not about theorizing although the model |
| thoughts,feelings and physiology or as a way to | | | | is a theory of human behavior, it is widely |
| influence those other parts of the model. | | | | accepted now and you can draw parallels to other |
| The third "box" on the cognitive behavioural | | | | forms of newer (and more powerful forms of) |
| therapy model is the "emotions/feelings" box. | | | | therapeutic technique, such as NLP, Sedona |
| How you feel again is connected to your thoughts | | | | Method etc. So apply this information, don't just |
| - if you are having thoughts that are negative, eg | | | | let it go to your head. |
| "I can't do it" - the belief - or "why me Lord?" or | | | | The idea in this authors understanding is to move |
| "why am I so useless" you are more likely to feel | | | | away from the quick-fix medical solution to ills and |
| bad. Whereas if you are feeling terrific, your | | | | to focus more on a holistic approach to healing |
| thoughts correspond normally. Apathy, grief, | | | | which incorpates empowering the person to be |
| anger, pride, courage, lust, peace, love harmony, | | | | responsible and change the causes rather than |
| serenity all can be classified as feelings/emotion | | | | treating effects with effects (drugs) and |
| states and can be commented on in this box. | | | | disempowering through taking away responsibility |
| Emotions are also connected to behaviors. Think | | | | (eg through traditional psychiatry) although such |
| about if you do some physical exercise. Maybe | | | | forms of therapeutic process do have their place. |