THERAPY AND POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGYto CBT. Proponents of CBT recognize that thoughts and behaviour can
influence each other in self-propagating ways that affect a client’s prob-
lematic experiences. For instance, imagine that a client’s fear of driving
is sustained by the belief that they aren’t competent enough to drive on
busy roads. This leads them to avoid busy roads by taking back-street
routes. This behaviour in turn means that they never get to experience
driving in heavy traffic, further undermining their confidence and
sustaining their distorted belief in their own driving incompetence.
The intuitive logic of CBT has made it particularly amenable to
delivery in groups and via computer and self-help manuals, making it
cost-effective and practical, especially for those unable to reach (or not
wishing to see) a therapist. The systematic nature of CBT and its easily
identifiable aims have also made it amenable to scientific tests of its
efficacy. Far more than psychodynamic therapies, which are traditionally
delivered over longer timescales and far vaguer in their aims. Consider-
able scientific evidence has accumulated that CBT is highly effective for
many clients, either on its own or together with pharmacological treat-
ments. However, CBT isn’t suitable for everyone, and psychoanalytic and
other therapies continue to play an important role.
The last decade has seen the emergence of a so-called third
generation, or third wave, of cognitive-behavioural therapies. In Mind-
fulness-Based Cognitive therapy clients are taught how to meditate
and are encouraged to pay attention, in non-judgemental fashion, to
their inner thoughts and experiences. Acceptance and Commitment
Therapy follows a similar approach and includes a commitment to
changing one’s behaviour, while Marsha Linehan’s Dialectical Behav-
ioural Therapy (DBT) similarly draws on the Buddhist principles
of mindfulness, acceptance and self-observation and also teaches
emotional coping skills. DBT has shown particular promise for
treating borderline personality disorder – a condition associated with
emotional turmoil and problematic relationships.
Positive Psychology – a new
approach
Notwithstanding the humanistic psychology movement that emerged
in the 1960s, it’s arguable that psychology for most of its history
has displayed a bias towards people’s mental problems and distress.
In 1998, in his address as President of the American Psychological