CBF: Cognitive Behavioral Fallacies

ABSTRACT

The article is a critique of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It questions CBT’s understanding of human suffering as well as the so-called science that underlines it, and the philosophy that underlines that. CBT psychology has fetishized measurement and believes that only the countable counts. It is argued that the science of CBT is not just “bad science” but “corrupt science.” The article also tracks the ways in which managerialist bureaucracies in the United Kingdom have distorted statistical realities in order to sustain the impression of CBT’s efficacy. It is argued that the claims of CBT are vastly exaggerated from the degree to which symptoms are reduced, the durability of the improvement, as well as the numbers of people it claims to help.

KEYWORDS:

• CBT
• statistics
• corrupt science
• managerialism
• politics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Farhad Dalal

Farhad Dalal, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist and Group Analyst in private practice in Devon, UK. He is a Training Group Analyst and supervisor for the Institute of Group Analysis, London. He also works with organizations. With colleagues, he has recently started delivering a long term psychodynamic group psychotherapy training in India (which is supported by donations) at groupanalysisindia.com. He has been studying and writing on the themes of psychotherapy, discrimination, equality and diversity for over twenty five years. He has published many papers and four books to date: Taking the Group Seriously; Race, Colour and the Processes of Racialization; and Thought Paralysis: The Virtues of Discrimination. The content of this paper draws on some of themes from his most recent work, CBT – The Cognitive Behavioural Tsunami: Managerialism, Politics and the Corruptions of Science. For more information, see his website at www.dalal.org.uk.