▲ Is Self-help CBT Self-sabotage? ▼
For people who dwell on thoughts of difficult moments (most of us), how can we expect to feel better if we either hide from those thoughts or disparage them in an attempt to redirect our focus? We might feel relief if we split off those thoughts or tire of thinking them, but is that real progress?
From BPS Research Digest:
Self-help books based on the traditional principles of CBT, including popular titles like 'CBT for Dummies', can do more harm than good, according to a new study. The risks were highest for readers described as 'high ruminators' - those who spend time mulling over the likely causes and consequence of their negative moods...
At four-month follow-up, the traditional CBT study group as a whole tended to have more depression symptoms than the other groups, although high ruminating and stressed students in the traditional group remained the biggest losers.
An earlier link-post, thinking don't make it so.
Learning about the nature and biases of our cognitive processes is different than disparaging the thinker. If am taught to believe a thought is corrupt yet I identify with the thought, what then?
UPDATE: A link to a good reddit.com comment thread
Cole Bitting
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Reader Comments (4)
CBT needs to be done with a dispassionate attitude of reason and a search for what is true and rational. If done in this way, it can be very effective. If done with a lack of compassion, it can increase ongoing rumination and self-beat-up.
Your point is very true. It also helps if the practice of CBT is supported by someone who can help ease the distress of the likely cognitive shifts.
"Don't think about the pink elephant." One of the challenges with CBT is that is skates very close to the hack expression, "don't think the distressing thought." It's easy to develop a fixation loop.
Studies of CBT show its clinic value - CBT with a counselor. The cited study focuses on possible risk of CBT without the counselor.
I agree, Duff & Cole.
Having a counselor is what makes a difference.
I am convinced the attitude of the therapist can be very important - e.g. the delivery of well-proven CBT techniques needs to be done in a certain way.
Otherwise, it is too confrontation, or it leaves the patient with the idea that he/she is wrong (not the thought process).
Incidentally, this is where I think there is a lot to learn from SF - in SOlution-Focus, dealing with clients respectfully is an art form brought to the highest standard of excellence, IMHO.
Have a great weekend,
ciao,
Paolo
Counselors are "interpersonal sociobiological regulators" :) .. In other words, clients gain perspective and a quality for regulations simply by being in the presence of someone who listens and allows the client to "feel felt."
If someone wants to tackle their cognitive "distortions," support and acceptance and understanding are likely a valuable part of the change process.
From my perspective, cognitive "distortions" likely have an emotional / body-based component. Until someone is equipped with alternative emotional / body-based responses, the push to break down practiced, near-automatic defenses can end up strengthen the defenses.