Cognitive-behavioral family therapy (CBFT) has its roots in both cognitive and behavioral approaches to counseling theory, drawing on the work of Joseph Wolpe, Aaron Beck, Albert Ellis, Frank Dattilio, Donald Baucom, Norman Epstein, and others. This approach focuses on the interplay between behavior, cognition, and interaction patterns between and among family members.

Historical Context

CBFT, while a fairly new treatment approach, is based on concepts whose importance has been recognized throughout history. Building on the work of behavioral and cognitive-behavioral theorists, family therapists began to integrate cognitive-behavioral theory and techniques into their approach in the 1970s.

The origins of this approach can be traced back to early pioneers in behavioral theory, such as B. F Skinner, whose seminal work examining operant conditioning informed therapists of the significance of ...

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