A Cognitive Therapy Approach for Treating Chronic Procrastination and Avoidance: Behavioral Activation Interventions
Keywords:
cognitive case conceptualizationAbstract
Traditional cognitive therapy (CT) focuses on identifying and modifying patients' distorted cognitions. Patients often find that they have overgeneralized the severity and pervasiveness of their difficulties, and CT helps them to reassess their circumstances and modify their misconceptions. For many other patients, however, treatment involves dealing with complex problems and recurring frustrations that are not as easily overcome by merely focusing on distorted cognitions. Those pervasive problems can engender a sense of hopelessness that results in chronic avoidance and procrastination. In this article, the author discusses clinical strategies for helping patients overcome avoidance and procrastination associated with longstanding functional problems. Specifically, the focus is on the problems faced by adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and highlights the use of the cognitive case conceptualization and other clinical interventions to help patients foster a sense of resilience in facing problems and pursuing their goals.
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