in the American Psychologist (interestingly, four of the ten therapists were cognitive-behaviorists) (Bongar & Buetler, 1995). Meichenbaum is a clinical psychologist who has invented and utilized some of the most operationally defined techniques of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Meichenbaum’s most famous piece of work, Cognitive-Behavior Modification: An Integrative Approach is considered a classic in the field of CBT. Meichenbaum bridged the gap between the clinical concerns of cognitive-semantic therapists (e.g. Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck) and the technology of behavior therapy. He was greatly dissatisfied with behavior therapy techniques because they overemphasized the importance of environmental events (antecedents and consequences) and therefore underemphasized, and often overlooked, how a client perceives and evaluates those events (Meichenbaum & Cameron, 1974). The disorders successfully treated by cognitive-behavioral methods include: depression, anxiety disorders, social phobias, bulimia nervosa, conduct disorder in children, schizophrenia, relapse prevention with substance abuse, marital distress, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Bongar & Buetler, 1995). As an expert in the treatment of PTSD, Meichenbaum has treated all age groups for trauma suffered from violence, abuse, accidents, and illness. Meichenbaum describes seven essential tasks encompassing a cognitive-behavioral therapeutic approach, which he finds crucial for a successful outcome in all forms of psychotherapy. These tasks are described sequentially and they take place over the course of therapy; being addressed as the client and the therapist sample techniques from them as needed. Most CBT clients are able to complete their treatment in just a few weeks or months - even for problems that traditional therapies often take years to resolve, or are not able to resolve at all.According to Meichenbaum (1996), the quality and nature of the therapeutic all...
