Evolving Our Thinking about Thinking in Psychotherapy

From the time Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis recognized the importance of addressing unhelpful cognitions and cognitive processes in the treatment of depression in the 1960’s, cognitive behavioral therapy has become a driving force in the world of evidence-based practice. Initially, Drs. Beck and Ellis focused on the content of thoughts as the primary target for psychological interventions. Similarly, modern behavioral psychology has emphasized the importance of addressing cognition as a key aspect of successful psychotherapy. However, B.F. Skinner’s focus on verbal behavior as a generalized operant and modern contextual behavioral scientists’ work on Relational Frame Theory tend to emphasize the importance of addressing contextual factors that influence the function or impact of language over the content of thoughts. In this wide ranging episode, Drs. Jeff Mann, Andy Santanello, and Kevin Holloway discuss places of convergence between these two great traditions and look toward the future of process-based approaches to cognition. Make sure you grab some coffee and a snack: this is a LONG one!Jeffrey Mann, Psy.D., is a Military Behavioral Health Psychologist at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Mann provides support Navy mental health training programs and is a Veteran of the United States Air Force (USAF) where he served as a psychologist from 2009 to 2013. In 2013, he deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.Dr. Mann received his bachelor’s degree in computer science from DePauw University and his master’s and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, with a specialization in primary care psychology. He is a 2010 graduate of the Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center Psychology Residency Program.Dr. Mann’s clinical work has focused on the assessment and treatment of trauma-related mental health conditions, anxiety disorders, insomnia and the use of Telebehavioral Health.Calls-to-action: Subscribe to the Practical for Your Practice PodcastSubscribe to The Center for Deployment Psychology Monthly Email