Re: CBT - Am I missing the point?
Eek... I've just skimmed through this thread and I mainly saw evidence of really bad therapists. I'm not sure what it tells us about CBT really since the worst examples look like therapists who should never have had the job.
The thing to me is that the therapist (or anyone helping) has to accept the following, and probably the sufferer too:
a. the emotion & fear are real
b. only the cause of the fear is irrational (ie. false)
c. initially the sufferer may need lots of help to do anything
d. the help should reduce as they improve. (ie. doing for them is not a cure)
This would seem to apply to any therapy. The sufferer does need to learn that their fear is irrational BUT should not be treated as silly or foolish.
I think CBT can easily fail because you can be thrown a lot of information rather being taught that information and taught to apply it. It a bit like throwing some maps to someone who is lost. If they cannot read a map - or maybe cannot read at all - it won't help them. You have to teach them to use the information and techniques. Its not just a magic spell.
Good Luck to everyone
__________________
Kevin, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK
Probably GAD & Phobias. Anxiety and renewed Depression medicated (Venlafaxine). Trying to improve.