Considering the dialogic potentials of cognitive therapy

Abstract

We have been encouraged by continued developments within Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and offer ‘our’ dialogic and discursive (i.e. social constructionist) ideas as resources for where CBT might yet develop. We show how these ideas might further critical examination of CBT should it be narrowly practiced in monologic or ideological ways that obscure client preferences and resourcefulness. We also turn a discourse analytic lens on therapeutic dialogue itself to consider ways CBT could be practiced in ways that are collaborative and generative. For us, CBT takes place in dialogues that discursive insights can help to optimize.