14. Cognitive Behavioral Therapies Used in Correctional Treatment

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is broadly defined as a type of therapy that focuses on both the cognitive (thinking) and behavioral (action) aspects of a person. CBT is widely used in the counseling and treatment of criminal and juvenile offenders for a variety of reasons. First, even though they are all grounded in the same theoretical framework, there are a numbers of variations in the methods that can be employed and a specific approach can be based on the characteristics of the client, the situation, and the training of the therapist. Second, the effects of CBT can generally be measured, since the methods employed are guided by empirical research and are supportive of the requirement that correctional treatment practices should be evidence-based. Third, CBT can be used in the counseling of individuals as well as groups. Several of the derivatives of the CBT treatment approach such as rational emotive behavior therapy, dialectic behavior therapy, and structured cognitive behavioral training are discussed and illustrated in this chapter.