Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psychosocial intervention that is used to improve mental health. CBT focuses on challenging and changing unhelpful attitudes, thoughts and beliefs, which, in turn, is believed to help with behavior change, coping strategies and emotional regulation. Although CBT itself is outside of the scope of health coaching, cognitive behavioral coaching (CBC) is certainly within a coach’s scope of practice and a powerful approach to behavior change.
Cognitive Behavioral Coaching (CBC)
Cognitive Behavioral Coaching (CBC) is a powerful coaching model that draws on evidence based psychological models. The strategies, activities, techniques and exercises used are effective in helping individuals identify and challenge self-defeating thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Negative thinking leads to negative emotions and negative emotions lead to negative behaviours, all of which has an effect on an individual’s physiology.
Many common daily challenges such as stress, lack of confidence, perfectionism, loss of meaning and purpose, poor communication skills or being less successful at work usually lead back to an individual’s personal perception of self. Cognitive-Behavioral Coaching aims to help clients gain a perspective about whatever is at the root of that person’s difficulty. Coach and client work collaboratively to identify what might be stopping an individual from reaching his or her full potential and what action is needed to take charge of their situation.
By integrating CBT principles, coaches create a structured framework that empowers clients to recognize negative thought patterns, reframe beliefs, and adopt healthier behaviours. This powerful combination allows clients to develop practical strategies for addressing challenges and achieving personal goals. Coaches adept at merging CBT with coaching techniques provide clients with a holistic approach to personal growth, focusing on both mindset and actionable steps. This synergistic approach fosters transformative change, enabling clients to navigate life’s complexities with newfound confidence and resilience. The aim of Cognitive Behavioural Coaching or CBC as it is known, is to develop ways of thinking and associated behaviours that are more productive and likely to assist an individual reach their desired goals in life. The process helps clients move towards becoming the kind of person they want to be, attaining desired outcomes whether personal or professional.
As a certified CBC practitioner, I largely incorporate CBC techniques when working on cognitive healing as the first step/level of trauma recovery. Cognitive recovery work focuses on recognizing and eliminating destructive thoughts by modifying the thinking process. If someone can talk themselves into being miserable and ineffective they can talk themselves, with the help of CBC coaching, out of such feelings and learn the associated behaviours that will lead to success.
