What is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy?


Theory being used

The theory being used for this activity is cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Cognitive behavior therapy is known as the best practice in the helping profession and is generally used to help others who may be struggling with anxiety, addictions, emotional thoughts, depression, and other concerns. (Addictions, 2007). CBT helps others discover their thoughts and feelings they may have about themselves or their behaviors (CAMH, 2012). It encourages clients to think about and focus on their behavior rather than them as a person. CBT also helps the client learn how to change any of their negative feelings or thoughts and encourages them to set their own personal goals (CAMH, 2012).

In the article, “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” it discusses how CBT is used to help people understand their thoughts and feelings and be able to tie them together with their behavior. Counselors use cognitive behavioral therapy to help guide and teach others how to improve on their behaviors (Addictions, 2007). It also stated that “The way people think and feel relates to how they will act and the way people act relates to how they will think and feel. (Addictions, 2007).

Counselors who use CBT want to encourage clients to change their way of thinking and to think more about the positives rather than the negatives (Addictions, 2007). People who over think things tend to create cognitive distortions in their mind. Cognitive distortions are beliefs one may create about their selves without even realizing it that could eventually affect their self-esteem (Addictions, 2007). 

Cognitive Behavior Therapy Activity

Name of Activity

Feelings Talk Ball

Image                PTALK

Purpose of activity

The purpose of this activity is to encourage the children or youth to learn more about their feelings and to be able to recognize them. It motivates them to explore their different feelings and thoughts they may have about themselves. When playing with the feelings ball in a group setting it could help others feel more comfortable opening up to others. This activity is also fun and children can get really creative when playing.

Length of activity

The length of the activity should only be about 15 to 20 minutes long because children and youth could start to feel over whelmed with emotion or could become bored. Although the activity should only go on for 15 to 20 minutes it would be beneficial to use a couple of different feelings ball so there is a variety of feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that are discussed. This will provide the children and youth with enough time to enjoy to game and to talk about their feelings and experiences.

Space needed for activity

When playing with the feelings talk ball it will be important to ensure there is an enough space available to ensure best results; although this game could work in a smaller space as well. It would be beneficial to ask the child, youth or family where they think would be the best place to play the game. If the child or family are having a hard time choosing a space I would recommend some suggestions like playing outside if the weather is appropriate, in a class room, a gymnasium or even a living room in someone’s house.

Supplies needed

3-4 soft balls (beach ball, volleyball, or a plastic ball)

Different color sharpie markers or word or picture stickers

Therapeutic approach activity

1. Activity one: The facilitator of the group or an individual counselor is to design the ball with the group or individual to get their minds thinking about feelings. Start with a plain ball and have the group shoot out different feelings and emotions. While they are calling out ideas write down the words in smaller font scattered all around the ball. Then have the group stand up, pass the ball to an individual and ask them to shout out what word their right thumb landed on. After they shout word the feeling word, ask them “Describe a time or event where you were feeling sad” or whatever the feeling may be. After the person answers have them pass the ball to someone else.

2. Activity two: The facilitator will prepare the feelings ball before meeting with a group or individual. Draw pictures of different emotions that other people make when they are feeling a certain way. For example, draw a happy face, sad face, angry face etc. Pass the ball to someone and ask them to describe the emotion that their left thumb landed on. After they answer have the person pass the ball to another person in the group.

What worked

Children and youth opened up more to the group and the counselor, which allowed the counselor to understand their feelings and thoughts more. This also allowed them to understand their own feelings and to be able to connect them to different behaviors they go through. Everyone was having fun and seemed to really like the idea of playing catch in order to learn about feelings rather than being taught through lecture.

Changes for next time

Depending on the group or situation not everyone will be comfortable talking about their feelings and emotions and might not even understand what they mean. I think it would be important to let the group or individual know that if they can’t think of anything or are unsure of something they can pass three times during the game. This will make sure everyone will still participate at least once but can pass the ones they really don’t feel comfortable with. I think it would also be important to have a little introduction about feelings and emotions before playing the game so the children and youth learn a little bit about what feelings and emotions are.



CAMH. (2012). Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy: An Information Guide. Retrieved September 17th 2013 from, http://www.camh.ca/en/education/about/camh_publications/Pages/CBT_Infoguide.aspx

Catholic Family Child and Service. (n.d.). Feelings Ball Game. Retrieved September 17th,2013 from, http://depts.washington.edu/hcsats/PDF/TF-%20CBT/pages/4%20Emotion%20Regulation%20Skills/Client%20Handouts/Affective%20Expression/Feelings%20Ball%20Game%20Instructions.pdf

Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addictions. (2007). Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Retrieved September 17th 2013 from http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/library/publications/year/2007/MHA_CognitiveBehaviouralTherapy.pdf

Google Images. (2013). Cognitive Behavior Theory. Retrieved September 17th from https://www.google.ca/search?q=cognitive+behavioral+therapy&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.52434380,d.aWM,pv.xjs.s.en_US.RJfod4swqLE.O&biw=1280&bih=675&dpr=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=dGc_UoCwJcP6qgHoqYBw

Google Images. (2013). Feelings. Retrieved September 17th, 2013 from, https://www.google.ca/search?q=cognitive+behavioral+therapy&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.52434380,d.aWM,pv.xjs.s.en_US.RJfod4swqLE.O&biw=1280&bih=675&dpr=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=dGc_UoCwJcP6qgHoqYBw#hl=en&q=feelings&tbm=isch&um=1

Google Images. (2013). Feelings Ball. Retrieved September 17th 2013 from, https://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=675&q=feelings+ball&oq=feelings+ball&gs_l=img.3..0l10.1823.3059.0.3115.….0…1ac.1.27.img..10.3.238.p0HulnsMGCY