Working with thoughts and beliefs Chapter 12 Working with thoughts and beliefs By: Noah M.P. Spector and Shaofan Bu

The mediating role of thoughts Thoughts color the ways in which people see and feel about events. Event Thought Consequence

Ellis’ ABC Activating event Belief Consequence

Linking activating event, thought and consequence Helping clients identify self talk Rewinding a situation—what is called “metacognition” or thinking about one`s thoughts. Questions like : What did you tell yourself at that moment?

Linking activating event, thought and consequence Discerning implicit self-talk Sometimes the counselor may want to tease out thoughts behind certain statements. The counselor may also work backwards from the client`s description of a particular mood. This examination can prime the client to adopt alternative thoughts.

“Irrational Thoughts” or “Distorted Cognitions” Two prominent ways of identifying self-talk that has negative repercussions What are some downsides of characterizing them in this way?

“Irrational” versus “Unhelpful” The rational/irrational dichotomy privileges certain ways of engaging with the world Rationality is not always the best response The notion of irrationality pathologizes responses that often “make sense” Unilaterally designating thoughts as “irrational” centers the therapists’ POV rather than inviting the client’s evaluation

Gauging the impact of automatic thoughts It is important to let clients evaluate their own thoughts. In this way the counselor avoids become the expert on their clients’ experience. Examples of questions the counselor can ask: When you get thinking that, how do you end up feeling? How does that thought pattern play out: what mood does it give rise to? What happens when you tell yourself that? Would you say a belief like that leads you to feel more or less hopeful (energized, content, etc.)? If you look at the overall sequence of things, from the thought that comes up, to the emotion associated with it, to the action that follows, what do you notice?

Automatic Thoughts vs. Global Beliefs Self talk Things we “tell ourselves” at particular moments Global beliefs “Schema” Broader patterns of belief that reflect worldview and influence what comes up at particular moments

Challenging the truth claims of unhelpful thoughts and global beliefs Two Approaches Identifying exceptions to unhelpful thoughts and beliefs Identifying recent exceptions to problematic self talk. Delving further into past situations where thoughts and beliefs did not hamper the client. Disputing problematic thoughts and beliefs through Socratic dialogue Examining the impact of thoughts on moods and actions. Taking a position: Are you okay with the current thoughts and beliefs?

Socratic dialogue Using questions to center the client in exploring and evaluating situations Often focused on where thoughts and beliefs lead…on their effects or consequences Encourage consideration of the plausibility of self-talk “claims” or global beliefs—do they seem universally true when examined carefully?

Generating alternative thoughts and beliefs Generating beliefs embedded in exceptions These exceptions have to do with the client’s preferences—with how they want to live The beliefs that support these exceptions should be named in order to consolidate them.

Generating alternative thoughts and beliefs Generating alternative beliefs arising from disputation These new beliefs may be contrary to the original underlying beliefs. For Dario: I’m boring because the host cut off our chat…becomes He’s got other things to attend to I guess. I’d be thinking there are other reasons for how he’s responding...it’s not just about me.

Constructing thought records. Sometimes done in session; often completed as homework. These records often involve: Description of the situation. List of Automatic thoughts. Evidence for unhelpful self-talk Counter evidence Alternative thoughts/ beliefs Ratings of mood following the alternative thoughts.

Mindfulness practice and cognition The challenge to “truth claims” comes not from disputing, but examining the nature of mind Problematic thoughts are seen as part of ever-changing stream of mental events

Mindfulness practice and cognition No mental events are seen as constituting a “self” Mindfulness traditions cultivate a nonjudgmental, accommodative relationship with thoughts and with self.

Self and identity We tend often to think of our identities as fixed and rigid Self talk is often focused on “totalizing” claims about our identities/selves A mindfulness orientation leads to a letting go of a rigid view of self…identity as flow...or “no-self”