Cognitive-Behavioral Theory, Reality Theory, and Gestalt Theory.
The first theory I have choose to write about is on Cognitive-Behavior. One of the key developers is Albert Ellis who was born in Pittsburg in 1913 he started out practicing classical analytic psychotherapy which he thought was to long and didn't work very well so he combined humanistic, Philosophical, and behavior therapy. Ellis came up with Rational -emotive behavioral therapy and is known as the grandfather of Cognitive-Behavior therapy (Corey 295).
Two other theorists associated with the theory are Aaron Beck and Donald Meishenbaum.
Beck who experienced fears and anxiety in his life decided to use his past to help him develop his theory. Beck who claims he successfully used cognitive therapy to treat depression, anxiety, alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, marital and relationship problems as well as personality disorders (Corey 296).
Cognitive-behaviorist study the thoughts processes that lead up to behavior and help to point out the "dysfunctional attitudes" and "irrational beliefs" that lead to bad behavior or situations that may cause discomfort. Beck was convinced that mood disturbances were the result of bad thinking about themselves and the situations they are in. He and another theorist George Kelly shared the same idea that the personality was made up of personal constructs and they put an emphasis on the thought process that leads up to the persons emotions and behaviors. Impulsive thinking such as "I"m stupid" also known as automatic thoughts are caused by an dysfunctional attitude which are sets of personal rules or values that people hold that interfere with adequate adjustment. Some examples from the dysfunctional attitudes scale are: It is difficult to be happy unless one is good looking, intelligent, rich and creative, or if a person asks for help, it is a sign of weakness (halgin 123).