Cognitive behavioural approach

According to the pioneers of the cognitive approach, Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis (1960), inappropriate behaviours, thoughts and emotions are the result of a number of irrational thoughts called "automatic thoughts." These automatic thoughts generate irrational interpretations of reality, or "cognitive distortions." The cognitive approach aims to create an awareness of these cognitive distortions to then modify them through a process called cognitive restructuring. 

The behavioural approach aims to replace inappropriate behaviours by more appropriate ones, with the help of behaviour modification techniques. In contrast to the cognitive approach, it does not take into account the individual's cognitive process. Cognitive behavioural therapy thus integrates the principles of both approaches by combining cognitive restructuring and behaviour modification techniques.

The cognitive behavioural approach is based on analysis of the individual's behaviours, thoughts and environment. This approach maintains that psychological difficulties are related to inappropriate behaviours or thoughts learned from everyday life. Thus, the individual's evaluation of a situation (thoughts including internal discourse, images, scenarios, etc.) is a key factor in determining emotions and behaviours. In turn, emotions and psysiological states influence the individual's thoughts.

According to this approach, it is important to analyze the thoughts, erroneous beliefs and behaviours of the person in his/her daily life. Following this analysis, the learning of new behaviours and thoughts is proposed. Psychotherapy therefore has the objective of developing the person's observation of various elements (behaviours, physiological states, emotions, thoughts, images) and their interaction in order to better control psychological states (stress, anxiety, depression, aggression, etc.).