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Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy

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Synonyms

Behavior family therapy; Cognitive restructuring; Cognitive-behavior therapy with couples; Schema therapy

Definition

Cognitive-behavioral family therapy is an approach to family therapy that focuses on the use of principles of behavioral modification (namely, contingency contracting and negotiation strategies) and is designed to change the interactional patterns of family members, as well as the restructuring of distorted beliefs and perceptions that develop as a result of faulty interaction. There is also a heavy emphasis on schema, or what is otherwise known as core beliefs in an attempt to evaluate how these impinge on the emotions and behaviors of family members’ interaction.

Theoretical Background

Cognitive-behavioral family therapy is based on the tenet that members of the family are simultaneously and/or influenced by each other’s actions. Consequently, the behavior of one family member leads to behaviors, cognitions, and emotions in other members, which, in turn,...

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  • DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_771
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References

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Correspondence to Frank M. Dattilio .

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Dattilio, F.M. (2012). Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy. In: Seel, N.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_771

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