---
title: Cognitive Behavioral Techniques
description: "\tCognitive Behavioral Techniques – Evidence-based practice\r\n\r\n\r\nSummary of the Evidence\r\n\r\n•\tCognitive behavioral techniques help clients assess their responses to situations and change their patterns of thinking (cognitions) and behaving.\r\n•\tOfficers can use these techniques during face-to-face contacts with clients.\r\n•\tCognitive behavioral techniques are evidence-based and can be used without formal clinical training (unlike cognitive behavioral therapy, which should be done by trained therapists).\r\n•\tProbation staff and people involved in the criminal legal system (the “criminal justice” or “legal” system is referred to as the criminal legal system in this document)  are generally favorable to the use of cognitive behavioral techniques with clients, particularly clients at medium and high-risk levels of recidivism.\r\n\r\n\r\nWhat Are Cognitive Behavioral Techniques?\r\n•\tCognitive behavioral (CB) techniques are based on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (see Appendix A for more information) and can be used in individual sessions/meetings. These are evidence-based strategies for correctional and non-correctional settings to facilitate behavior change. \r\n•\tCBT addresses issues related to decisions that individuals make that affect their behavior.\r\n•\tCBT and techniques are an evidence-based practice/treatment.\r\n•\tCB techniques\r\no\tcould include working with clients to identify prosocial goals, then changing thought and behavior patterns to help clients achieve those goals\r\no\tinvolve engaging in active listening to understand the client’s perspective and sharing decision-making to empower the client to make decisions\r\no\tcan be used effectively by officers with no background in clinical skills \r\n•\tCB techniques come in multiple forms and may be distinct from traditional therapy-based CBT.\r\no\tCB techniques often incorporate strategies used in conversation or face-to-face contacts.\r\no\tOfficers using CB techniques may focus on aspects of a client’s life choices and events that contribute to criminal behavior.\r\n\tOfficers can focus on and act upon factors (e.g., housing, food security, transportation, etc.) that can affect a client’s life and contribute to criminal behavior.\r\n\tOfficers can refer clients to licensed clinical practitioners for traditional CBT if the client suffers from a psychological disorder (see Appendix A).\r\n\r\nHow Are CB Techniques Used?\r\n•\tCB techniques have three different strategy sets:\r\no\tStrategy 1 (Behaviorism): Focuses on changing observable behaviors to reduce a person’s risk of future criminality.\r\no\tStrategy 2 (Cognitive): Focuses on changing thought processes to improve decision-making that will reduce a person’s risk of future criminality.\r\no\tStrategy 3 (Mindfulness): Focuses on increasing client’s awareness and acceptance of internal processes, and aligning their behaviors with their prosocial values.\r\n•\tClients should be assessed to determine if they will benefit from CB techniques. Potential factors which may make CB techniques more difficult to use with clients are:\r\no\tpresence of mental illness\r\no\tpresence of SUD\r\no\tclient unready to change\r\no\tclient unreceptive to CB techniques\r\no\tfrequency of offending behavior\r\no\toffending behavior is motivated by social circumstances (not mindset)\r\no\tliteracy\r\n•\tClients should be assessed periodically to determine if CB techniques are still appropriate. \r\n•\tCB techniques are appropriate for all risk levels.\r\n\r\nHow Can They Be Used to Monitor Compliance?\r\n•\tCB techniques should not be used to monitor client compliance or determine if they are able to follow supervision conditions.\r\n•\tCognitive behavioral techniques can be a useful tool to review and process (deconstruct) noncompliant events.\r\no\tOfficers can use CB techniques to have clients walk them through their thought process leading up to a noncompliant decision.\r\n•\tWhile CB techniques are generally appropriate for clients regardless of their compliance level, there are some circumstances where it may be ineffective or even detrimental.\r\no\tIf a client is noncompliant with some conditions of supervision and seems unreceptive or resistant to CB techniques, forcing the client to participate is unlikely to lead to positive outcomes.\r\n\tCB techniques work better with clients who are more engaged and interested in the process.\r\no\tIf a client is unreceptive to CB techniques, it may be better to first focus on explaining to them why the process is important and addressing their concerns in order to achieve buy-in.\r\n\tClient motivation and engagement may be area-specific—they may be more ready to engage in CB techniques targeting one aspect of their life than another.\r\n•\tIt can be helpful to “go where the motivation is” and address those areas of a client’s life that they are ready to work on. This can be a helpful way to establish buy-in and trust before transitioning to addressing other areas of a client’s life as they become ready.\r\n•\tIt can also be helpful to work with a client to set priorities. This happens when the client picks one aspect of their life to address and the officer picks another. Both aspects are subsequently worked upon, so both parties have a say in what is discussed.\r\n•\tCB techniques may be a useful tool to get clients interested in the therapeutic process if they are not yet ready to engage with full CBT.\r\n\r\nHow Can They Be Used as a Supervision Tool?\r\n•\tCB techniques can\r\no\timprove quality of life\r\no\tchange cognitions\r\no\tfacilitate behavior change and desistance (including reduced recidivism)\r\no\tpromote prosocial relationships (including between officer and client)\r\no\tfacilitate conversation and direct attention at achieving goals  \r\n\r\nWhat Are the Costs of CB Techniques?\r\n•\tLearning CB techniques and becoming competent will entail training costs.\r\n•\tUsing CB techniques with clients can be integrated into routine activities with officers, lowering the cost required to use them.\r\n\r\nWhat Do Supervision Staff Think About Cognitive Behavioral Techniques?\r\n•\tSupervision staff report that CB interventions are\r\no\tsometimes appropriate for all low-risk clients, except clients who are gang-involved, for whom they are never appropriate and\r\no\talways appropriate for all medium- and high-risk clients.\r\n\r\nWhat Should You Expect When Using CB Techniques?\r\nClient Outcomes\r\n•\tCB techniques can facilitate behavior change and quality of life improvements for clients.\r\no\tThere is strong evidence connecting CB interventions to behavior change and quality of life improvements when used to target mental illness.\r\n•\tCB techniques may change thought patterns that contribute to criminal behavior. \r\no\tHowever, CB interventions alone cannot change socioeconomic circumstances (e.g., poverty, lack of opportunity, cumulative disadvantage) that may drive this behavior.\r\n\r\nAre CB Techniques an Evidence-Based Practice?\r\n•\tYes, evidence shows that CB techniques are effective in reducing recidivism and promoting behavior change.\r\n\r\nWhat Do People Formerly Involved in the Criminal Legal System Think About CB Techniques?\r\n•\tPeople involved in the criminal legal system report that CB techniques are\r\no\tsometimes appropriate for all low-risk clients and\r\no\tsometimes appropriate for all medium- and high-risk clients, except those who have committed intimate partner violence, for whom it is always appropriate.\r\n\r\nCommunication That Strengthens the Officer-Client Relationship (Messaging)\r\n•\tOfficers should be transparent and honest with the client throughout the process. This involves making sure the client understands\r\no\tCB interventions are evidence-based practices that can lead to positive life outcomes, including behavior change and increased life satisfaction\r\no\twhich outcomes the court/officer wants to achieve through CB techniques\r\no\tparticipating in CB techniques does not imply the client is “sick,” “weak,” or different than other people\r\n•\tNoncompliance with CB techniques should not necessarily be viewed as “bucking the system” or an inability to follow the rules. Clients may have genuine concerns about engaging with CB techniques that the officer should talk through with the client. These concerns may include\r\no\ttaking time off from work, family responsibilities, or other conditions of supervision to engage with CB techniques during office visits\r\no\tfinding transportation to and from office visits\r\no\tbeing seen as “sick” \r\no\tdiscussing difficult and/or sensitive topics with the officer\r\no\thaving engaged with and tried to use CB techniques without seeing any results\r\n•\tIn the event the client is resistant to CB techniques, the officer should take time to hear and address their concerns.\r\n\r\nSpecial Considerations When Using CB Techniques With Subpopulations\r\n\r\nGang-Involved\tCB techniques can be used to help identify prosocial and detrimental aspects of gang membership.\r\nGeneral Violence\tNone\r\nIntimate Partner Violence\tCB techniques can be used to address emotional dysregulation (inability to regulate emotions), cognitive distortions (false or misleading beliefs), relationship skills deficits (difficulty forming and maintaining relationships), and power and control issues. \r\n\r\nThere is evidence that interventions following Strategy 3 (Mindfulness) show promise for individuals who have committed IPV when it focuses on factors connected to the offense, such as the individual’s own trauma history and emotion regulation skills.\r\nSerious Mental Illness\tOfficers may need to adapt CB techniques for use with clients with severe mental illness, particularly those with cognitive impairments. Strategies include walking through material, reviewing material, etc. \r\n\r\nCB techniques may not be effective if the client is experiencing active psychosis, or if they have intellectual/developmental disabilities or cognitive impairments.\r\nSubstance Use Disorder\tOfficers can use CB techniques during office visits to reinforce concepts (like self-control and finding alternatives to using narcotics) that clients are learning and practicing in substance use treatment programs."
url: "https://www.gmuace.org/appropriateness-statement-package/treatments/cognitive-behavioral-techniques/"
updated: "2023-06-14"
category: Treatments
tags:
  - Behavioral Health
  - "Evidence-Based Practices"
  - Officer Techniques
  - Treatments
---

# Cognitive Behavioral Techniques

***Cognitive Behavioral Techniques – Evidence-based practice***

Summary of the Evidence

- Cognitive behavioral techniques help clients assess their responses to situations and change their patterns of thinking (cognitions) and behaving.
- Officers can use these techniques during face-to-face contacts with clients.
- Cognitive behavioral techniques are evidence-based and can be used without formal clinical training (unlike cognitive behavioral *therapy*, which should be done by trained therapists).
- Probation staff and people involved in the criminal legal system (the “criminal justice” or “legal” system is referred to as the criminal legal system in this document) are generally favorable to the use of cognitive behavioral techniques with clients, particularly clients at medium and high-risk levels of recidivism.

 

What Are Cognitive Behavioral Techniques?

How Are CB Techniques Used?

What Do Supervision Staff Think About Cognitive Behavioral Techniques?

What Should You Expect When Using CB Techniques?

Special Considerations When Using CB Techniques With Subpopulations

 

**Appendix A2: CB Therapy (CBT)**

- While officers can use CB techniques in their interactions with clients, it is often preferable to refer clients to trained professionals in the community for regular and fully structured CBT sessions.
- CB therapy (CBT):
  - CBT uses individual or group therapy sessions and out-of-session skill-building exercises to alter the cognitions (thought patterns) that can lead to the targeted behavior.
    - CBT targeting mental illness is different than CBT targeting criminal behavior, substance abuse, or criminogenic thought patterns.
  - CBT can be effective in changing criminogenic thought patterns, improving client life satisfaction, and when used correctly, building the working alliance between officer and client.
- Avoid telling the client to get CBT without providing referrals and resources for doing so.

 

**Similar Topics**

## [Prosocial Modeling](https://www.gmuace.org/appropriateness-statement-package/motivation-techniques/prosocial-modeling/)

## [Incentives](https://www.gmuace.org/appropriateness-statement-package/motivation-techniques/incentives/)

## [Drug Testing](https://www.gmuace.org/appropriateness-statement-package/compliance-based-practices/drug-testing/)