Cognitive Theory Name Institution Instructor Course Date Cognitive Theory Cognitive Theory Cognitive theory is a type of therapy in psychology that aims to solve negative human behaviors by providing strategies that enable counselors to understand the thought process of their clients

Cognitive Theory Name Institution Instructor Course Date Cognitive Theory Cognitive Theory Cognitive theory is a type of therapy in psychology that aims to solve negative human behaviors by providing strategies that enable counselors to understand the thought process of their clients

Cognitive Theory
Name
Institution
Instructor
Course
Date
Cognitive Theory
Cognitive Theory
Cognitive theory is a type of therapy in psychology that aims to solve negative human behaviors by providing strategies that enable counselors to understand the thought process of their clients (McLeod, 2013). Therapists can use this theory to help their clients to transform their thought process in identifying negative thought patterns and transforming them into positive and useful thoughts (McLeod, 2013). The cognitive theory believes that the human behavior is determined by one’s thoughts and these thoughts can be triggered and used to bring about a positive effect to an individual (McLeod, 2013). How an individual’s mind processes information reflects certain behavior of the individual. The thought process is the main aspect in determining individual’s behavior and therapists can use this theory to achieve counseling goals and objectives (McLeod, 2013).
Concepts of the Cognitive Theory That Make It the Most Appropriate For Ana
The cognitive theory is the most suitable for Ana who is the client in the case study because most the major stressors in her life are psychological issues that can be best addressed through counseling and the cognitive theory will have a more positive impact on Ana than any other theories (Jones-Smith, 2014). These major stressors have caused worry for Ana and cognitive theory can be used to convert the negative thoughts into constructive thoughts, which will help her with the recovery process (Jones-Smith, 2014).

Cognitive theory aims at integrating effective cognitive processes which can enable better learning and improved memory functioning (Jones-Smith, 2014). This new information is stored permanently in the individual’s memory. Ana’s major stressors are issues, which would take long to address some including her husband’s deployment overseas and raising her baby by herself. With the use of the cognitive theory, Ana can learn new behavioral patterns, which can help her in the long run (Jones-Smith, 2014). Cognitive theory focuses on behavioral factors, environmental factors, and personal factors. These three dimensions are involved in Ana’s stressors (Jones-Smith, 2014).

Why Did You Choose This Theory over the Others?
Cognitive theory is the best suitable theory for Ana because it involves learning new information, which is important in addressing the arising challenges and other issues that may arise in the future (Corey ; California State University, 2013). The theory implements strategies that help in permanent storage of information that can be useful in the future. Most counseling sessions aim at solving major concerns permanently and this theory has proved to work effectively and able to achieve this goal than any other counseling theory (Corey ; California State University, 2013).
This theory also focuses on using the client’s thought process meaning the client is involved in the treatment process and with this type of strategy, clients can be able to participate in their recovery process, which will enable and guarantee a better and effective solution (Corey & California State University, 2013). Most clients’ issues originate from their thought process and addressing the issues from where they originate will guarantee a permanent and effective solution (Corey ; California State University, 2013).

The Goals of Counseling and Intervention Strategies to Accomplish These Goals
The goals of counseling will be to address the client’s problems, which include feelings of hopelessness after the client lost her job, which has affected her eating and sleeping patterns resulting to her decrease in weight. The client who is Ana is also worried and stressed about raising her child as a solo parent since her husband has been deployed overseas in the military. This also worries her much as her husband will not be with her for the next eight months and considering what happens in combat zones, it has kept her worried for her husband. Ana also lost her job as a loan officer in one of the local banks three months ago and she is having financial problems.
Ana has not yet completed her college education because of her getting a baby, that made it difficult for her to manage a job, education, and her baby. The client has also relationship problems with her family and has not seen her family for the past one year. The emotional problems can be addressed by positive thoughts, which can be implemented by using the cognitive theory (Sharf, 2017). The counselor can also help Ana with the physical challenges by helping her in better decision-making regarding her family and her career. With Ana having a good relationship with her family, she can overcome most of her challenges which are as a result of her living a single life with no close family and friends to support her mentally and financially since she is from a wealthy family.
Is The Theory Designed For Short- Or Long-Term Counseling?
The cognitive theory can be best applied for long-term counseling since the learning process is a complex process requiring much time (Sharf, 2017). Transforming a client’s thought process is a task that can be quite involving and this theory can be used to achieve long-term goals of the counseling sessions (Sharf, 2017). Since learning is a continuous process, this theory can be used for clients who will be in the counseling process for a long time, which will enable permanent and effective solutions to the underlying challenges (Sharf, 2017).

Counselor’s Role with This Client
The role of the counselor will be to help the client who is Ana in addressing the issues she is facing (Sharf, 2017). These issues include lack of a family and supportive friends to help her during this difficult time in her life. The counselor will also help Ana in addressing the financial problems, which have been caused by her quitting her job at a local bank and provide ways that Ana can be able to get financial help or a job to help her in supporting her child. The counselor will also help Ana in addressing her worry about her husband who has been deployed overseas in a military operation and how Ana can be able to raise her child as a solo parent. The counselor will be responsible in applying the cognitive theory in addressing the challenges facing Ana (Sharf, 2017).

Client’s Role in Counseling?
Ana who is the client has a role of opening up about her problems and any other underlying issues that may be influencing her issues (Seber, 2013). Through this, the counselor will be better informed on what decisions to make in addressing each issue affecting Ana (Seber, 2013). Ana has also a role to perform in the treatment process since cognitive theory allows the client to participate in the counseling session, which enables better decision-making involving the counselor, and the client (Seber, 2013). Ana is also supposed to corporate with the counselor to enable better communication, which is important in counseling sessions and will guarantee better and effective solutions (Seber, 2013).

For What Population(S) Is This Theory Most Appropriate? How Does This Theory Address The Social And Cultural Needs Of The Client?
The cognitive theory is most suitable for young clients like Ana who is twenty-four. This is because the cognitive theory involves complex changes of the thought process and can be most effective when used on young individuals who have the capability to learn and understand new information easily and accurately (Sommers-Flanagan ; Sommers-Flanagan, 2018). Young individuals have the ability to gain new knowledge faster than an older generation, which could take a lot of time and resources in the application of this theory, which might as well be unsuccessful (Sommers-Flanagan ; Sommers-Flanagan, 2018). The cognitive theory addresses the social and cultural needs of the client by considering other variables affecting the client, which include behavioral factors, environmental factors, and personal factors (Sommers-Flanagan ; Sommers-Flanagan, 2018).

What Additional Information Might Be Helpful To Know About This Case?
Additional information that might be helpful to know about this case may include details of her family and how to get in touch with them as they will be helpful to Ana since they are financially stable and can be able to understand their daughter better than anyone else (Geldard ; Geldard, 2012). The parents can also be involved in the counseling sessions through technology since they live in Guatemala, which is far from their daughter’s location. Details about the frequency of the communication between Ana and her husband might also be helpful in addressing the challenges related to her husband (Geldard & Geldard, 2012).
What May Be A Risk In Using This Approach?
The risk associated with the use of the cognitive theory is when clients are unable to use their emotions and the thought process in addressing their challenges (Geldard & Geldard, 2012). Cognitive theory relies entirely on the use of a client’s thought process and when clients face a difficulty is using this theory, the goals and objectives of the counseling sessions may not be achieved (Geldard ; Geldard, 2012). This approach may also pose a challenge for therapists when dealing with clients who are not attending the counseling process on their own will as these clients may be resistant in applying this theory in their treatment process and the counselor may have a difficult time trying to convince the clients for change (Geldard ; Geldard, 2012).

References
Corey, G., ; California State University. (2013). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth.

Geldard, K., ; Geldard, D. (2012). Personal counseling skills: An integrative approach. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas.

Jones-Smith, E. (2014). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy: An integrative approach. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc.

McLeod, J. (2013). An introduction to counselling. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education.

Seber, G. A. F. (2013). Counseling issues: A handbook for counselors and psychotherapists. New Zealand: Xlibris.

Sharf, R. S. (2017). Theories of psychotherapy and counseling: Concepts and cases. Vancouver, B.C.: Langara College.

Sommers-Flanagan, J., ; Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2018). Counseling and psychotherapy theories in context and practice: Skills, strategies, and techniques. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.