Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)’s main assumption is that our thoughts affect our emotion, which affect our behavior, which then has a direct result on our interpretation of that event.Cognitive learning pdf it evolved to address a broad range of issues with an impressive body of evidence to support their resources, but their outcomes, specifically their long-term outcomes, is less successful than one would hope (the journal of happiness and well-being, 2013).Cognitive learning pdf

Positive CBT (bannink, 2012; 2013) is a recent combination, which has emerged because practitioners are looking for a way to move CBT forward in finding more long-term results.Cognitive learning pdf positive psychology practitioners and coaches believe that it is the client’s abilities, strengths, and resources that are most important in helping them change as opposed to focusing on their limitations and deficiencies.Cognitive learning pdf

It draws on research and applications taken from positive psychology and solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), which can be simply described as finding the best route to take in knowing what works for the client (the journal of happiness and well-being, 2013).Cognitive learning pdf it emphasizes the construction of solutions as opposed to the more traditional emphasis on analyzing problems.

CBT uses a logical positivist view and views the foundations of science as being the most important kind of observations since it is objective and quantifiable.Cognitive learning pdf positive CBT and SFBT use a social constructionist view, where it is the individual’s belief of what is real, such as his abilities and problems, that is constructed in communication with others (the journal of happiness and well-being, 2013).Cognitive learning pdf

Kuyken, padesky, & dudley (2009) state that CBT literature has a tendency to place greater emphasis on identifying precipitating, predisposing, and perpetuating factors for problems other than strengths; they argue that we should always be including strengths building resources for every case (the journal of happiness and well-being, 2013).Cognitive learning pdf

The alliance between the practitioner and client is obviously important, not only to build trust but for creating an active and collaborative engagement to help the client.Cognitive learning pdf positive CBT therapists should create a positive alliance by asking questions that extract useful information about strengths and solutions that are already present in the client’s life.Cognitive learning pdf for example questions such as:

Suppose tonight a miracle happens and your problems are all solved. But because you are asleep, you don’t know that this miracle happens.Cognitive learning pdf what will be the first thing you notice tomorrow morning that will tell you that this miracle has happened? What will be the first thing you notice yourself doing differently that will let you know that this miracle occurred?Cognitive learning pdf

I would agree that this is extremely similar to the coaching process I have learned through wellcoaches both in their health & wellness coach certification program and their advanced professional health & wellness coach certification program.Cognitive learning pdf as a coach I develop a collaborative relationship and view the client as knowing inside what will work best for them to develop an upward spiral of wellbeing.Cognitive learning pdf this includes many of the factors you have presented such as using appreciative inquiry, motivational interviewing, visioning, finding and leveraging strengths and resources, finding the positive, looking at “problems” as “opportunities for growth and learning”, reframing/refocusing from what they don’t want to what they want, goal setting, developing emotional intelligence, developing communication skills, mindfulness practices, self-compassion, positivity, positive psychology and PERMA as developed by martin seligman, and many more that are grounded in current neuroscience.Cognitive learning pdf I appreciate where traditional psychology has taken us however I believe using a positive and strengths based approach helps individuals become more aware and use that awareness of the past and problems to craft a better now and future.Cognitive learning pdf