Depression sufferers have an overall negative view of themselves, the world outside them, and what is likely to happen to them in the future. These beliefs are called ‘thinking errors’.
CBT was developed by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960’s to lessen the symptoms associated with depression. By first identifying these thinking errors and then standing back in the position of observer to reality test these negative thoughts as hypotheses, rather than accepting them as facts. Then alternative ways of thinking can be substituted for the original negative automatic thoughts which are more balanced, and reflect the persons experience more accurately.
As an information processing model clients are shown that it is not what they experience but how they interpret it which determines how they are. CBT in the treatment of depression has statistically proven to change brain chemistry without medication, and is endorsed right across the board from within the NHS and throughout the private sector.