History of Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Emotional Regulation Achievement

In the 1970s, CBT was defined as three concepts: (a) Coping skills therapies, which focus on the ways in which the client can minimize the negative effects of external events; (b) Problem-solving therapies, more focused on teaching reaction styles and strategies to produce a greater number of possible alternatives for problem-solving; and (c) Cognitive restructuring techniques, whose goal is to alter disturbing thoughts. In the 2000s, contextual therapies emerged as the third generation of CBT, being more sensitive to context and the functions of the psychological phenomenon, aiming to emphasize strategies for experiential changes. The goal of this approach is to manage emotions or emotional regulation, which means the ability to identify, understand, and manage feelings and sensations. Thus, it is possible, in the face of strong emotions, to avoid an impulsive response that may cause greater conflicts, seeking a solution with simple management.