Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT): A Case Study

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This assignment will focus on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) as an intervention that aims to reduce the challenges experienced by some people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Tony Attwood, clinical psychologist states that whilst an individual with Autism can have ‘considerable intellectual ability, ‘there is invariably confusion and immaturity with regard to feelings.’ (Attwood, 2015). CBT focuses on the individual’s development and recognition of emotions and feelings, both their psychological and physiological manifestations, aiming to teach individuals how to recognise and identify dysfunctional or negative thought patterns. ‘It is a psychotherapeutic intervention aimed at enabling an individual to understand the thoughts and feelings …show more content…

Attwood (2015) stated that CBT has direct applicability to those who have ‘delayed Theory of Mind (David Premack and Guy Woodruff, 1978) abilities and difficultly understanding, expressing and managing emotions.’ (Attwood, 2015). After medication, Mental Health Ireland (2018) cites CBT as ‘the most effective treatment for reducing the symptoms of almost all mental health problems, especially anxiety and depression’ leading to an improvement in the individuals ‘overall quality of life.’ (Mental Health Ireland, 2018). This can prove significant as studies show ‘depression appears to occur with greater frequency among people with ASD than in the general population.’ (Tara Chandrasekhar, …show more content…

2005). Cognitive Restructuring gets the individual to question their thoughts and develop strategies to alter the feelings and behaviours that may arise out of the thoughts, be it anxiety, stress or anger. Attwood’s Emotional Toolbox is devised through individual consultation and identifying tools that help release emotional energy, in turn clarifying and regulating cognition. The individual identifies a range of tools which can be representations of, or a physical tool which allows for ‘creative destruction’ (Attwood, 2015) and the release of excess energy often associated with frustration or anger. Tools and activities associated with relaxation can be added to allow for an alternative release of emotional energy, i.e. listening to music or a physical movement which induces relaxation such as stimming or