COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL CASE FORMULATION - THE CASE OF JIM

Individualized case formulation is not typically considered a part of the practice of cognitive-behavioral (CB) therapy. However, there are compelling reasons for CB therapists to develop an individualized case formulation for the patients they treat. Individualized CB case formu lation is particularly helpful to therapists who treat difficult or mu lti-problem patients. In such cases, a CB case formulation helps the t herapist identify and organize the patient's problems, select appropri ate interventions, and manage problems that may compromise the therape utic relationship or steer the treatment off course. An overview of th e theoretical underpinnings of cognitive-behavioral case formulation t he components of the CB case formulation worksheet, and the applicatio n of CB formulation to the case of Jim are presented.