Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Teens and Adolescents
Understanding General Cognitive Disorders and Cognitive Distortions
Cognitive disorders are conditions that affect the way the brain processes information, impacting functions like attention, perception and problem solving. In children and adolescents, these conditions can manifest in various ways, including learning problems, depression and speech challenges.
Cognitive disorders can also cause learned patterns of negative behavior or inaccurate thinking that may influence the patient’s reasoning skills. Cognitive disorders interfere with school and the emotions which allow young people to interact confidentally with the world around them.
In children and adolescents, cognitive conditions can manifest in various ways:
- ADHD
- Learning disabilities like dyslexia
- Autism
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Memory disorders
- Cognitive distortions
Behavioral therapy connects thoughts, feelings and actions
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) scenarios vary, of course, but in CBT sessions, a therapist may work collaboratively with an adolescent and their family. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), the CBT journey focuses on moving forward with mindful, effective ways to help a patient cope with life and its joyful benefits.
CBT can support a range of behavioral problems, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Alcohol abuse
- Conduct disorders
- Drug addiction
- Eating disorders
- Partner or family stress
- Severe mental illness
Research suggests that CBT leads to significant improvement in functioning and quality of life. At its core, CBT works by helping patients identify and challenge negative thought patterns, replacing them with more balanced and positive perspectives.
What are cognitive distortions in CBT?
Cognitive distortions are frustrating patterns of negative thinking. When a patient is being treated with CBT, they may have to work through what’s called distorted thinking processes that are harmful to their psychological health. Cognitive distortions are systematic cycles of faulty thinking that can lead to anxiety and other troubling behaviors.
Unlike cognitive disorders, which refer to neurological or developmental conditions, cognitive distortions are how patients interpret experiences. Distortions often involve irrational or exaggerated thought patterns, such as:
- All-or-nothing thinking
- Overgeneralizations not based on any evidence
- Focusing on the negatives and dismissing the positives
- Catastrophizing or expecting a worst-case scenario
- Blaming yourself for situations not in your control
Understanding these definitions is key for parenting adolescents with cognitive issues. Both cognitive disorders and cognitive distortions can significantly impact a young person’s self-esteem, academic performance and social interaction. Fortunately, evidence-based interventions, such as CBT, show great promise in addressing these issues.
CBT helps reframe damaging thought patterns, “catastrophizing” and “overgeneralizing” for example, that can occur when a child starts accepting the obsessive thoughts as facts. (For instance, a student may believe that a single poor math grade will define their entire academic future.) CBT techniques can help them reshape those thoughts into something more constructive and stable.
CBT can manage and ease the effects of cognitive distortions
Therapists may employ several practical strategies to help the CBT patient: Journaling and thought recordings are two tools designed to empower adolescents to challenge negative beliefs in real-life scenarios.
CBT techniques not only alleviate the symptoms of anxiety associated with cognitive distortions, they help build essential coping skills. Over time, adolescents can develop strategies for handling their day-to-day activities without persistent negative thinking,
Moreover, CBT is highly collaborative, involving the adolescent in setting goals and tracking progress. This approach can foster a sense of ownership and control over their own mental health journey.
Contact us
To schedule a tour or intake, LifeWorks’ admissions staff in Pennsylvania is available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. For questions on programming and school services, call 215-489-3028 or complete the online contact form.