Author: John Mathews, LCSW

Epicureanism & CBT: The Method of Multiple Explanations

Epicureanism & CBT: The Method of Multiple Explanations

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is psychotherapeutic method for treating anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. A key component of CBT is the identifying and changing of cognitive distortions, or errors of thought, which interact with associated behaviors to negatively influence emotional states. It is rather well-known that there is some precedent for CBT in the…

Cognitive Distortions: All You Need to Know

Cognitive Distortions: All You Need to Know

Cognitive distortions are errors of thought and/or belief that create false perceptions of reality and by doing so create emotional distress. Cognitive distortions can be contributing factors to anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. Identifying and reducing cognitive distortions is a core component of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which is one of the most well-regarded…

What Principle Underlies Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy? It’s All Connected

What Principle Underlies Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy? It’s All Connected

The foundational principle that underlies cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is that thoughts, behaviors, and emotions are interconnected. This relationship can be visualized with the CBT triangle (or cognitive triangle). Thoughts, behaviors, and emotions can be understood as three points on a triangle, and each one influences the other in a bilateral fashion. This means that: Cognitive…

Should Statements: The Peril of Rigid Expectations

Should Statements: The Peril of Rigid Expectations

Should statements are cognitive distortions, or faulty thought patterns, in which a person knowingly or unknowingly creates rigid expectations that in turn lead to unnecessary distress. Should statements are one of the “sneakier” cognitive distortions in that they become so ingrained in our thought habits that we don’t even realize we are making these errors,…

Worst Case Scenario Thinking: How to Stop Catastrophizing

Worst Case Scenario Thinking: How to Stop Catastrophizing

Worst case scenario thinking, also known as catastrophizing, is a cognitive distortion or faulty thought pattern, in which a person greatly exaggerates the likelihood that something unusually bad will occur. Worst case scenario thinking is one of the more common cognitive distortions, particularly for those with anxiety or depressive disorders. In this article we will…