Cognitive therapy contains a significant psychoeducational component (Beck et al. 1979). A long-term goal of treatment is to empower the patient-to increase a sense of self-efficacy and to teach the patient to become his or her own therapist. One way to achieve this goal is to make the patient a full partner in charting the course of therapy. This entails discussing the purpose of meeting with the therapist, the goals of treatment, and the types of methods that will be used to achieve these goals.

By exploring the purpose and goals of treatment, therapists take some of the mystery out of the process of change, and minimize the chances that mistrustful patients will view their therapists as playing mind games or being on power trips. If the therapist and patient determine that their respective goals are at odds, at least the problem will be on the table, and not a conflict of hidden agendas. They can then agree to find some common ground, and work toward shared goals until the thornier issues can be discussed and explored at greater length.

Therapists can stress that the process of change requires teamwork, and that the therapist and patient are not adversaries.