Page 72 - Part A

Counselling Skills

How cognitive behavioural theory underpins cognitive
behavioural practice

This theory underpins the behavioural therapy that is provided, either on a
one-to-one basis or as part of group therapy. Whichever format is chosen, the
relationship with the therapist should be a collaborative one. This means that the
client will take an active involvement in the therapy, and will have a say in the way that
the sessions progress. Issues will be discussed in confidence and without judgement.

The therapy itself tends to last somewhere between six weeks and six months,
depending on the nature of the concern being explored. Usually, the client will attend
one session a week, with each session lasting around 50 minutes to an hour. At the
beginning, the client will discuss what has brought them to therapy. They will have the
opportunity to outline what they would like to gain from CBT and set some goals.
The client and therapist will then work on the content and structure of the sessions.
The therapist may set certain tasks to do as homework and the client will be able
to talk about how they found these tasks during the next session. As the therapy
progresses, the client will take a more prominent role in the sessions in terms of
content and structure. The idea is that by the end of the course of treatment, they
should feel able to carry on the work alone.

CBT underpins practice in terms of the nature of the helping relationship that is
established. This relationship between the counsellor and the client is like that
between a tutor and a student.

Typically, the relationship is:

• Short-term

• Structured

• Directive

• Goal oriented.

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