Praxical.Psych
Unit 13 of 20

Cognitive therapies

Learn the most-tested psychotherapy in existence, and the honest account of its limits.

Chapter 10Sessions 11/23–11/30

What you should be able to do afterwards

  • 1Build a cognitive conceptualisation from three situations
  • 2Distinguish guided discovery from disputation
  • 3Design a behavioural experiment with a falsifiable prediction
  • 4State the dismantling and mediation problems accurately

The reading

Cognitive therapy is first-line in nearly every guideline and its proposed mechanism remains under-determined. Both facts are true. A sophisticated practitioner delivers the treatment competently while holding the reservation, and knows the difference between a thought that is distorted and a thought that is accurate and unwelcome.

What belongs to this unit

Questions to take away

For a seminar, a supervisor, or an argument with yourself.

  1. 1Metacognitive therapy argues that thought records are supervised rumination. Is it right?
  2. 2How do you decide whether a belief is distorted or accurate?
  3. 3If cognitive change does not mediate outcome, what is the thought record for?

Your notes

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Educational use only

Praxical.Psych is a teaching tool. It is not medical, clinical, psychological or legal advice, not a diagnosis, not treatment, not supervision, and not a credential. Nothing here creates a clinician–patient or solicitor–client relationship. Every patient, case, transcript and simulated session is fictional. Clinical and legal requirements vary by jurisdiction and change over time — verify anything that bears on a real decision against your own regulator, statute and current professional guidance, and consult a qualified professional.

Do not enter real patient information. If you or someone else is in crisis: US & Canada 988 · UK & Ireland 116 123 · Australia 13 11 14 · elsewhere findahelpline.com · immediate danger, your local emergency number.

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Before you begin

What Praxical.Psych is, and is not

Praxical.Psych is an educational tool. It teaches the theory, evidence base and clinical method of psychotherapy at the level of an advanced survey course, and it lets you rehearse a complete session in a simulator.

It is not medical, clinical, psychological or legal advice. It cannot diagnose or treat anyone, and it does not state the law where you practise — requirements differ by jurisdiction and change. Nothing here creates a clinician–patient or solicitor–client relationship.

  • Every patient, transcript and case in this app is fictional — a composite written for teaching. None depicts a real person.
  • Praxical.Psych is not therapy, not a substitute for supervision, and not a credential. Competence to practise comes from training, supervised hours and licensure.
  • Scores from the instruments here are for learning how they behave. They are not a diagnosis and not a risk assessment, and must not inform a decision about a real person.
  • Do not enter real patient information. Everything you type stays in this browser, but that is not the same as a compliant clinical record system.
If you are in crisis

In the US and Canada, call or text 988. In the UK and Ireland, call 116 123 (Samaritans). Elsewhere, find a local line at findahelpline.com. In immediate danger, use your local emergency number.

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