Cognitive Therapy Skills and Techniques: Building on a Basic Foundation
Presented by Melissa Novak, LCSW, CST
Cognitive therapy is based on the premise that it’s not what is actually happening but the perception of the event that determines a person’s emotional response. Often these perceptions are based on biased ways of thinking developed from childhood on, and can lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and various other disorders. A cognitive therapist helps clients explore, examine and test their ways of thinking to identify such distortions and address them. They do this by developing a solid case conceptualization, adhering to specific therapy structure, and the use of various therapeutic techniques. This workshop will build upon the basic premise and conceptualization of Cognitive Therapy by focusing on the structuring of sessions and the examination of beliefs.
Objectives:
- Understand the purpose and importance of the cognitive therapy structure
- Ability to implement a consistent session structure in one's own practice
- Determine the best course of action to address distortions or biases in thinking
- Learn various cognitive techniques such as examining the evidence, thought reframing, and thought flooding
- Describe the basic components of a thought log and guide a patient through its practice
The cost of this workshop is $30. 2.5 CEUs are available for Social Workers and Professional Counselors. Discounted parking ($16) is available at 20 E. Randolph, (Macy's Parking Garage)
About the Presenter:
Melissa Novak is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Sex Therapist in private practice. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Social Work from the University of Missouri-Columbia where she focused her studies on human sexuality and sexual therapy. Ms. Novak specializes in the treatment of those struggling with anxiety, OCD, PTSD, sexual dysfunction, impulsive/compulsive sexual behaviors and personality disorders. The foundation of her approach is grounded in empirically-validated treatments, proven most effective in treating sexual concerns, anxiety and depression, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and sexual therapy.
About MHEP:
The Mental Health Empowerment Project (MHEP) is a series of educational presentations/trainings throughout the Chicagoland area. Presentation topics range from addictions to bullying to social emotional literacy, and other current mental health topics. The goal of MHEP is to provide mental health providers with the most up-to-date information and tools to successfully treat their clients, as well as to empower consumers to live successful and productive lives.