Which therapy teaches new, adaptive ways of thinking and includes Beck's therapy for depression as part of it?

Which therapy teaches new, adaptive ways of thinking and includes Beck's therapy for depression as part of it?

• A. Aversive conditioning
• B. Cognitive therapy
• C. Virtual reality exposure therapy
• D. Family therapy

Answer: (B)

Cognitive therapy centers on identifying and changing distorted thinking that contributes to emotional distress. Beck's therapy for depression is a foundational form of this approach, teaching people to notice automatic negative thoughts, examine their accuracy, and replace them with more balanced, realistic beliefs. Through practical techniques like keeping thought records, guided questioning, and testing ideas with real-life experiments, individuals learn to reinterpret situations, reduce depressive symptoms, and maintain these gains. Other options don’t focus primarily on altering thought content: aversive conditioning uses punishment to change behavior, not thought patterns; virtual reality exposure therapy uses simulated experiences to lessen fear; and family therapy targets interactions within the family system rather than the individual’s cognitive processes.

Cognitive therapy centers on identifying and changing distorted thinking that contributes to emotional distress. Beck's therapy for depression is a foundational form of this approach, teaching people to notice automatic negative thoughts, examine their accuracy, and replace them with more balanced, realistic beliefs. Through practical techniques like keeping thought records, guided questioning, and testing ideas with real-life experiments, individuals learn to reinterpret situations, reduce depressive symptoms, and maintain these gains. Other options don’t focus primarily on altering thought content: aversive conditioning uses punishment to change behavior, not thought patterns; virtual reality exposure therapy uses simulated experiences to lessen fear; and family therapy targets interactions within the family system rather than the individual’s cognitive processes.