Change Maladaptive Behavior

Change Maladaptive Behavior

When cognitive-behavioral therapy is used a therapist is using individual goals with the help of cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. The point of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is to change, evaluate maladaptive, and identify dysfunctional styles, and distorted belief systems that process information. Therapists work with patients to help them change the continuous negative ways of thinking, which affect behavior, attitudes, and beliefs. According to "American Society on Aging" (2012), "CBT begins with identification of dysfunctional thoughts (e.g., overgeneralizing, self-blame, unrealistic expectations) once erroneous beliefs and methods of processing information are exposed, the client attempts to examine and alter the problematic cognitions." By moving maladaptive, or task-interfering thoughts to using strategy-relevant thoughts a person can improve his or hers emotional function and his or her adaptive behavioral change.

When using CBT in older people, he she will focus on skill building and not on personality change. Older groups in therapy will work on his or hers sense of belonging, well-being, social awareness, and interaction that will help promote positive adjustments within his or her environment. When an individual has a fear of falling, he or she is reacting to automatic thoughts. The individual is reacting to a distorted view of a situation. By using cognitive therapy a therapist will help a patient more aware of his or her thinking patterns or his or her cognitive distortions and help change him or her.

Behavioral therapy will help patients to replace unwanted behaviors with healthier behavioral patterns. A therapist will help a patient change his or her behavior, and why he or she is behaving the way he or she is. The therapist will help identify with the patient thoughts and behaviors that cause him or her to have distress, and to help him or her change the thoughts that cause the distress so that those thoughts can be readjusted.

Negative ways of thinking

Cognitive restructuring is a way he or she can challenge negative thinking patterns. When a person identifies his or her fear of falling, he or she can replace the thoughts with a more positive or realistic thought. When a person identifies negative thoughts, he or she perceive a situation more dangerous than it is. A therapist will help him or her through steps when there is a feeling of anxiousness.

When he or she challenges his or her negative thoughts, he or she is working on evaluating his or her thoughts. He or she will be able to question the frightening thoughts, analyze the beliefs, and test why they have negative predictions. He or she can challenge the negative thoughts by conducting experiments; weigh the pros and cons of avoiding the thing he or she fears, and determine whether what