Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Children, Article Review Example

With the introduction of new technologies, the medical field is being renovated like it has never before. Disorders that we previously had very primitive understandings of are now being defeated through new artistic solutions. This great expansion of technology and knowledge is especially relevant in the field of psychology where people that have been misunderstood for years, have now been given a cause to their behavior. The article that Erin Rotheram-Fuller and Laura MacMullen present is targeted specifically to discuss a new alternative that has been brought upon for the treatment of pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Through this article, the authors propose to articulate and advocate for the implementation of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat the patients with ASD instead of using traditional methods that have not quite exhibited the same success rates as CBT.

Fuller and MacMullen introduce their proposal by first exhibiting the problem which is ASD, and the various complications that this disorder poses on the lives of the afflicted as well as their families. Furthermore, the authors introduce relevant information as to how different schools have dealt with children dealing with these problems and they exhibit the fact that CBT has proven to be most effective within every single one of their tests. Following with the intricate task of explaining what CBT is, how it works, and the treatment that the author proposes will be most effective in dealing with these types of problems. The effectiveness of CBT in other areas is also very much analyzed within their interview as to assimilate the great success that some of the students have had. This is especially true in dealing with children that have problems that include: anxiety, mood, and psychopathic disorders. It is in the use of CBT as the primary force of care that the continued effectiveness seems to be derived from.

In order to effectively validate the information that has been mentioned, the authors provide visual data compiled into charts that express the results that have seen in various different tests conducted using the line of treatment the authors suggest which is CBT. The success rate of the use of CBT for children that have ASD is tremendous and is continuously expressed in the data the authors exhibit within the article. The final topic that the authors touch on is in applying the practice of CBT within the school system. They advocate for this practice constantly since they prophesize that the continued success of the program would reach an all-time high if it was to be applied in the school system. This comes as a result of the fact that children are readily available to apply concepts they have learned at school rather than forget them at home. Applying within the school would also mean a continuous, ongoing process of success by the children who wish to enroll in the program.

Analyzing the article as a whole, it becomes evident that the authors are most certainly great advocates for the well-being of children. Through the research that they have conducted it can easily be concluded that attempting to deal with ASD in a traditional manner would certainly not be as efficient as the tactics that we have built ourselves upon. The cognitive issues within ASD is something that these authors place extra focus on as they truly believe that the effectiveness of CBT comes from dealing with the person and their way of thinking as a whole rather than just dealing with their actions in a cold manner. Cognitive delays are most certainly tragic especially within the field of pediatrics but can be very well dealt with through the means of effective alternatives such as CBT.

Analyzing the previously states facts about this article we can conclude that CBT is effective in the treatment of ASD. Children are often the victims that suffer the most out of these types of disorders and therefore need special treatment. This special treatment could very well be provided if schools were to implement CBT programs within their system. The success from the program comes from not dealing only with the behavior, but also with the way the person thinks and formulates their thoughts.

References

Rotheram-Fuller, E., & MacMullen, L. (2011). Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Retrieved from http://file:///C:/Users/Hector/Downloads/CBT%20for%20Children%20with%20Autism%20Spectrum%20Disorders.pdf