As the use of new technologies expands, so does their versatility. Fortunately, this means that, today, psychotherapy is able to cover needs that it did not reach just 15 years ago, among other things.
Online cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the clearest examples of this phenomenon : One of the most effective and adaptable forms of psychological intervention can be used in patient care through video calls, with very good results comparable to those of in-person therapy.
In this article we will see what exactly this form of psychotherapeutic intervention through the Internet consists of, and how it works.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a model of intervention in patients that is based on the theoretical-practical foundations of behavioral therapy and cognitive psychology that emerged in the late 1960s. The ideas on which it is based are the following.
1. The psychological is divided into behavior and mental processes
First, the cognitive-behavioral perspective distinguishes psychological phenomena into mental processes, on the one hand, and behavioral phenomena, on the other. The first has to do with cognition (the way of thinking) and emotions, and the second includes actions that involve movement, and that can be observed by other people. This division is not radical; both dimensions are connected, but they have their own logics
2. Mental processes are the cause of a large part of behavior, and vice versa
What happens in our mind results in objective events that occur in our body: gestures, postures, deliberate actions, etc. Likewise, the way we behave externally (and the consequences this generates around us) affects how we think and feel.
3. Many problems are due to cognitive schemes
Those of us who work from the cognitive-behavioral perspective understand that part of the problems that affect the quality of life of patients are due to latent psychological aspects in the way of thinking and interpreting reality that the person has internalized, that is, has been learning and has made his own (normally, unconsciously).
In other words, from this perspective discomfort does not only come from sources external to the person, but also from private mental phenomena, based on something like the “inner speech” of the individual.
4. Improving well-being involves modifying cognition and behavior
As its name suggests, cognitive behavioral therapy has two focuses of intervention : the behavioral dimension, made up of the individual’s actions when interacting with the environment and with those around him, and the cognitive part, made up of beliefs, thought patterns, frameworks for interpreting reality, etc.
Fortunately, both can be addressed through online cognitive behavioral therapy, in whose sessions patients receive both theoretical information and practical training in various psychological techniques
5. Change is gradual and requires the generation of habits
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is no different from other psychological interventions whose effectiveness has been scientifically proven in the fact that it does not promise miraculous cures in a matter of minutes or hours: changes occur on the time scale of days and weeks.
Psychological intervention is not forever. Once the objectives established in the first sessions are reached, the therapy ends.
How does online cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy work?
Online cognitive-behavioral therapy does not present significant differences with its face-to-face version in the psychologist’s consultation ; The only change is the channel in which communication is established: a video call in which professional and patient see and hear each other in real time. With this clarified, let’s see how it develops.
During the first stage of the intervention, the patient talks about his problem and gives information about what he feels, what he needs and how he lives, so that the therapist gets an idea of ​​his characteristics and the contexts to which he usually goes. expose that person.
Behind this, The psychologist establishes a hypothesis about what is or what are the problems to be solved , create an action plan and propose specific objectives. All of this is presented to the patient, who gives approval before moving on to the next phase: the implementation of the behavior modification program and psychological patterns in general.
From this point, the professional helps the patient in two ways. First of all, allows you to adopt other frameworks of thought and interpretation of reality to be able to find new solutions to their problems and new sources of motivation, leaving behind beliefs that acted as a burden.
Second, it trains the patient in techniques that will allow him develop ways of relating to the environment that are more appropriate and that promote emotional balance ; These techniques are varied and the ones to be used will depend on the patient’s problems and their needs.
As the weeks go by, the psychologist continues with the training, and at the same time provides support and resolves doubts, while motivating the patient by monitoring their progress. If problems appear, he can modify the plan that structures the intervention, so that the patient is not left too far behind. Finally, when reaching the objectives, the possibility of carrying out more spaced sessions is usually offered to ensure that a new and stable way of life has been reached, without suffering relapses or regressions.
Are you interested in receiving online psychological assistance?
If you think you could benefit from having online professional support from a psychologist, Get in touch with me I am a psychologist specialized in the cognitive-behavioral model and I serve both in person in Madrid and via video call. You can see my contact information on this page.
