C-BASP: Cognitive-Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy

The chronically depressed adult is perceptually disconnected from the environment so that his/her behavioral consequences cannot inform behavior. The dilemma of the patient stems from a pervasive fear-avoidance predicament.

CBASP is the only therapy model developed specifically for the treatment of chronic depression.

Goals of CBASP Psychotherapy

The first goal is the establishment of dyadic safety in the therapy relationship.

The second goal is to establish a perceptual connection between the patient’s behavior and the consequences that are produced. It is strongly recommended that all patients who begin CBASP therapy also begin a regime of antidepressant medication.

In psychotherapy, patients are taught that their interpersonal behavior has specific consequences and in learning to recognize what these consequences are, patients become perceptually connected/reconnected to their environment. Perceptual connectedness means that the person becomes accessible to formative feedback from the environment (others). This goal is accomplished through a technique known as Situational Analysis (SA).

In SA, the therapist directs the patient’s attention (1) to the effect his/her behavior is having upon others and (2) teaches the individual how his/her interpersonal behavior is affecting the therapist. These procedures are carried out in a systematic manner throughout treatment. A second goal is to help the patient generate empathic behavior with the therapist and others. (3) A third major goal is to heal the interpersonal trauma patients bring to treatment.

Again, this is done systematically and repeatedly across therapy sessions. The Interpersonal Discrimination Exercise (IDE) shows patients how the therapist differs in comparative ways to maltreating significant others in the individual’s life. Finally (4), Contingent Personal Responsivity (CPR) is administered by the clinician to modify in-session inappropriate behavior.