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What are the disadvantages of CBT in children?
CBT does have some limitations. Because it only focuses on the present and your child’s reactions to events, it doesn’t consider other factors that can affect her behaviour. For example, she might have genetic triggers for depression. If so, addressing her faulty thinking alone might not be enough. CBT promotes assumptions which may be faulty CBT instills the notion that your faulty or irrational thought patterns are responsible for maladaptive behavior and mental health problems. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use problems, marital problems, eating disorders, and severe mental illness. In 2015, a meta-analysis by Johnsen and Friborg rocked the cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) boat by claiming CBT was becoming less effective over time. They reported a significant negative relationship between year of publication and the effect size of CBT for depression. Disadvantages of CBT Due to the structured nature of CBT, it may not be suitable for people with more complex mental health needs or learning difficulties. As CBT can involve confronting your emotions and anxieties, you may experience initial periods where you are more anxious or emotionally uncomfortable. Research shows that CBT is the most effective form of treatment for those coping with depression and anxiety. CBT alone is 50-75% effective for overcoming depression and anxiety after 5 – 15 modules. Medication alone is effective, however, science still does not understand the long-term effects on the brain and body.
What are the strengths of CBT in children?
CBT helps the child or teenager gain control of their thoughts, by challenging assumptions, encouraging healthy ‘self-talk’, finding effective coping strategies and, where suitable, facing the feared situation to show that things are in fact OK. CBT is effective because it has the capacity to engage even the most serious problems. Therapists using CBT as a primary method for treating their clients report success with highly complex disorders like PTSD, specific phobias, generalized anxiety, social anxiety disorder, depressive disorder and many more. Specifically, patients with greater capacity to identify and articulate thoughts and feelings and to share them in a nondefensive, focused way benefit most from CBT. CBT argues that you can change any negative emotions you might be feeling by changing negative patterns of thinking or behaviour. Unlike other forms of psychotherapy, CBT focuses specifically on the problems and difficulties in the present, rather than issues based in the past.