CBT Therapeutic Techniques
Activity schedulingÂ
This works best with those suffering from moderate to severe depression. Asking the client to rate both pleasure (P=) and achievement (A=) with a mark out of 10Â for each task can help her to see beyond the cognitive bias of thinking that she has achieved and enjoyed nothing that day or week. It also helps to chart progress. You can suggest tasks for the client or allow her to come up with her own tasks â it is often better to come up with as many pleasurable tasks as you can in the sessions by collaborating. They do not need to be very rigid.
People at this level of depression often sleep for a long time and engage in little activity. This approach often helps people to re-engage in lost activities and remember that they enjoyed them. Exercise has been found to help enormously.
Finding evidence
Challenge âcanâtâ beliefs to reduce helplessness. Teach the client skills to identify NATs â especially the âhotâ thoughts that bring a strong reaction of sadness or hopelessness and helplessness. Teach them how to look for evidence that support or contradict that thought. Using the Thought Record can help with this.
