What is the goal of cognitive restructuring in therapy?

The goal of cognitive restructuring in therapy is to help individuals identify and change negative thought patterns. This therapeutic approach is rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which operates on the premise that our thoughts significantly influence our emotions and behaviors. When individuals experience distress, it is often due to irrational or maladaptive thought patterns that can lead to negative feelings and behaviors.

Through cognitive restructuring, a therapist guides clients to recognize these harmful thoughts, question their validity, and replace them with more balanced or constructive beliefs. For instance, someone who thinks, “I always fail” might learn to reframe this thought to “Sometimes I succeed, and sometimes I don’t, but each experience is an opportunity for learning.” This shift helps individuals to better manage their feelings and build healthier responses to challenging situations.

The other options focus on different therapeutic goals. Reinforcing positive behaviors through rewards relates more to behavior modification than cognitive restructuring. Reducing anxiety by exposing patients to their fears aligns with exposure therapy, which is a specific technique within CBT. Increasing emotional intelligence focuses on enhancing one’s ability to understand and manage emotions, which does not directly relate to identifying and altering negative thought patterns as emphasized in cognitive restructuring.