Assessment Stage: Data Gathering and Structuring the Interview

The aims of the assessment in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are to derive a detailed and shared formulation of the person’s presenting problems and, together, to develop an individualized treatment plan. As in the traditional psychological assessment, the main goals of cognitive-behavioral assessment are to diagnose disorders, discuss with the patient the goals of the treatment, plan the treatment, and try to facilitate positive changes in the patient starting from the first encounters with the therapist. An essential part of the assessment is the process of data gathering. Without collecting good information, it will not be possible to understand the patient’s problem(s), and consequently his or her collaboration and trust may be compromised. Communication is therefore a key element in this stage of the therapy and represents the bridge between the patient’s perspective and the therapist’s theoretical framework.