Institute

Aaron T. Beck Institute for Cognitive Studies

Dr. Aaron T. Beck is has earned an international reputation as one of the founders of Cognitive Therapy, which is an active, structured approach that has been demonstrated to be highly effective in treating psychological conditions like depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, personality disorders, and relationship problems.

Contact Information

Leonard A. Doerfler, Ph.D., Director, Aaron T. Beck Institute for Cognitive Studies

doerfler@assumption.edu

Location

Kennedy Hall - Room 133

Dr. Beck's pioneering work on depression profoundly altered the way this disorder is understood and treated. Dr. Beck and his colleagues systematically extended the initial work on depression to conditions as diverse as anxiety and phobias, personality disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, marital discord, and schizophrenia. Extensive research demonstrates that Cognitive Therapy provides an effective treatment for a variety of conditions that had largely been treated with medication.

Dr. Beck is University Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1995 Assumption College awarded him a Doctor of Humane Letters (Honorary) degree for his contributions to the development of Cognitive Therapy. The Institute was established in 1996 and enjoys Dr. Beck's active support and involvement. He has visited campus several times in recent years to lecture on Cognitive Therapy and to meet with the Clinical Counseling Psychology Program's faculty and graduate students.

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Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy & The Institute

Cognitive therapy (also known as cognitive-behavioral therapy) helps people examine their self-defeating thoughts and to solve problems in their daily life. It does this by helping them analyze and change thinking that is negative or distorted, which can lead to problems like depression, anxiety, interpersonal and relationship problems, alcohol or drug abuse, or stress. Cognitive therapy does not focus only on negative thinking, but instead helps people gain a better understanding of the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and actions. As a result, cognitive therapists focus on helping people change destructive and unhealthy behaviors to more positive and adaptive ones.

Cognitive therapy is a problem-focused therapy that helps people change their thoughts, feelings, and actions by using proven treatments that are firmly based on scientific research. Cognitive therapy has been shown to be effective for a wide variety of psychological and interpersonal problems and for some problems (e.g., anxiety), it is the treatment of choice. Cognitive therapy usually focuses on current situations and problems and it is often effective in a brief period of time.

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Aaron T. Beck Institute for Cognitive Studies

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Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy & The Institute

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A Catholic college located in the heart of New England in Worcester, Massachusetts, Assumption College strives to form graduates known for their critical intelligence, thoughtful citizenship, and compassionate service.