Sample Solution

cognitive Behavior Theory indicates that people’s emotions, thoughts, behavior and body sensations, are linked to each other and that whatever people do and whatever they think, affects how they feel. Also, changes in one of these will cause changes in the others. When a person feels distressed or worried, they can fall into thinking patterns  and emotional responses that can exacerbate any negative feelings. This theory outlines how an individual’s mental processes play a critical role in the development of their emotional state. From a therapist’s perspective, if we can change the way a person thinks, then we can change the way they interpret the world around them. This type of approach can help address unhelpful thinking styles and form an initial approach for the treatment of neurotic symptoms. Unhelpful thinking styles are mental blocks that prevent us from achieving our goals. They’re often unconscious and hard to recognize because we’ve been conditioned to believe them over time. Examples of this type of thinking include beliefs such as “People who fail at things must be lazy.” “I’m not smart enough to succeed.” “I’m too young/old/different/unqualified to succeed.” “I won’t ever find a job.” These thoughts are called cognitive distortions because they distort reality. If we can acknowledge and begin to transform unhelpful thinking styles, we have a good chance of changing our behavior. These types of metacognitive beliefs provide us with a more significant Locus of Control, equipping us with a greater capacity for positive change.