Many of us want to lose weight from time to time, but when the process does not go as expected, we become frustrated and start believing that we will fail. Focusing on this thought rather than our goal often makes … Read More
“I haven’t done enough to deserve to rest…”
Many of us are constantly on the go, to the point where we can’t truly rest except when we sleep. Yet, there’s that inner voice saying, “You should be doing more.”
But how helpful is the belief that we must … Read More
Automatic Thoughts and Cognitive Distortions in Anxiety
When we feel anxious, we have certain automatic thoughts more frequently.
If you have noticed, our thoughts during anxiety will usually fit into this formula:
Also, when we are anxious, due to intense feelings of fear, we see the … Read More
Epigenetic Regulation in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Decades of research has shown that genetics greatly contribute to the development of a psychiatric disorder.
This contribution reaches up to 40 to 80% at most extreme cases.
However, heritability doesn’t seem to be sufficient to explain the whole story. … Read More
Can We Choose What to Think?
Thousands of thoughts pass through the mind during a day. However, only some of these catch our attention while most cannot make their way into our consciousness. Moreover, we stay focused on some thoughts more when compared to others.
Then, … Read More
How to Challenge Maladaptive Assumptions in CBT
Maladaptive Assumptions in CBT
In one of our previous posts, we examined Maladaptive Assumptions in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Techniques for Identifying Them. In this post, we share CBT techniques for challenging maladaptive assumptions.
As you might recall, … Read More
Maladaptive Assumptions in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and How to Identify Them
Maladaptive Assumptions in CBT
Maladaptive assumptions (also called underlying assumptions, intermediate beliefs, dysfunctional beliefs) in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, are, as the names suggest, maladaptive/dysfunctional beliefs underlying automatic thoughts.
They are simply the rules behind our automatic thoughts.
As you … Read More
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)? – What Makes CBT Different?
As in all forms of cognitive behavioral therapies, CBT assume that psychological problems might be caused in part by our maladaptive/unhelpful/irrational ways of thinking, or behaviors.
In CBT, symptoms are not seen as the signs of “deeper issues” since any … Read More
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A Short Historical Overview
Until mid-60s, behaviorism was the dominant approach in both the understanding and the treatment of psychopathologies.
Then, however, behavior therapists came to accept that taking classical or operant conditioning as the sole explanation of the development of psychopathologies and working … Read More
Is Self-CBT Possible? Can We Use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques for Helping the Self?
It is inarguably true that CBT is a very structured form of therapy, and, thus, it must be applied only by professionals who have been trained for it. Especially in clinical conditions, indeed, a professional help is indispensable.
However, still, … Read More