What Is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy?
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is the term given to range of psychotherapies that have similar approaches to solving mental problems and psychological disorders. These can range from depression, anxiety to phobias and obsessive compulsive disorders. CBT uses cognitive (e.g. thoughts, beliefs, emotions etc.) and behavioural therapies to treat problems. Unlike other therapies, it focuses on thought patterns, difficulties or triggers in the present time instead of focusing on the past such as childhood events. The aim of the therapy is to influence and change negative emotions that relate to inaccurate appraisals of events.
The technique was first founded by psychiatrist and psychotherapist Aaron T. Beck in the 1960's and is based on sound scientific data; having undergone scientific trials in many places by different teams and been applied to a wide variety of problems. In fact, CBT has been shown to be just as effective as medication in treating depression and certain anxiety disorders.
How does CBT work when treating animals?
The understanding of pet behaviour has increased greatly in recent years. Gone are the days when scientists claimed animals had no emotions and we now understand far more about animal psychology and physiology.
The use of CBT in treating behavioural problems in animals is a relatively new phenomenon and to date the Animal Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Centre (ACBTC) is the first behaviour group to offer this service. It is scientifically proven that most animals (mammalian and bird species) can experience emotions, and although these may be interpreted a different way to how humans experience them, negative emotions and mental states (fear, anxiety, depression etc.) have been shown to affect behaviour and reduce an animals well being. CBT is used to identify the negative or irrational emotions and thoughts that may cause problem behaviours and/or the events that then maintain these behaviours in animals. Therapeutic techniques such as positive reinforcement, distraction techniques and behaviour modification are specifically catered to the animals (and species) cognitive (mental) and behavioural processes. This allows the significant events and associated feelings that usually occur with maladaptive behaviours to be altered, helping your pet to cope and reducing stress. Our techniques promote new, desirable behaviours and reactions to be taught, enabling problem behaviours to be eliminated quickly and efficiently.
As with people, all pets are different and our techniques and advice are specific tailored for each individual animal. The personal service we offer enables individual behaviours to be broken down identifying the source/cause enabling us to develop the most effective method of treatment for your pet. Our techniques focus on positive associations and reinforcement and the ACBTC does not use or advocate negative reinforcement or punishment training.
Most behavioural problems can be helped, so don't just continue to live with it, get in touch with us today.
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