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, the ultimate goal of challenging a maladaptive assumption in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is to find a…
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 might remember, CBT mentions three levels of cognitive distortions. Automatic thoughts are the most superficial of…
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 interpretation without evidence might be a cognitive distortion and contradict with the principles of cognitive…
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 on behavior alone was not enough for progress in many conditions. This was a call…
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, both cognitive and behavioral techniques used in CBT can be suited for helping the self….
In one of our previous posts, “Can We Control Our Thoughts?”, we examined if it is possible to stop or control our thoughts. Here, I give an example of how to challenge an automatic thought about controlling our thinking. I use the cognitive behavioral therapy techniques for challenging automatic thoughts. In her mind, Carol is…
“…There has been a machine installed in my head, and this machine has been continuously lining up thoughts, impressions, without a break. If I only had the control of this machine, if I only thought of the things I wanted, in the order I wanted them to be, who knows what I could have achieved….
Decades of research have shown that there is an area in the left-hemisphere of our brains that constantly makes up stories about anything and everything! The pioneer of the research, neuroscientist Michael Gazzaniga and his colleagues call it “the interpreter”. They discovered the interpreter while they were working with patients so called “split-brain patients”. As…
Self-Generated Thought and the Wandering Mind “How should I start…? Maybe I should have a cup of coffee first. But before that, I need to run the washing machine. My white shirt needs to be clean for tomorrow morning…” Have you noticed?: When the mind is not busy focusing on an external task, it wanders…
A CBT session with a client who asked for our help for quitting smoking. We try to understand his desire to smoke when he feels bored, and uncomfortable.