You know, my observation is that the disagreement here between SeptemberMorn and Mal seems to reflect the fundamental differences between CBT and more emotion-focused therapies. Both are valid therapy approaches, but they have opposing beliefs about emotions.

CBT intervenes using our cognitions and our behaviors to influence our wellbeing. We act and think our way into a new way of feeling.

Whereas emotion focused therapies intervene using our emotions by exploring, giving meaning to, and validating our feelings. We may change how we think about what we feel, or we may soothe the feeling, but we still have the feeling. We may reconstruct our feeling with a new meaning or new belief, but we still feel the feeling.

Both approaches are equally valid. But they are diametrically opposed. If you believe in one, you might tend to view the methods of the other as "going about it backwards." Believe me, that's a debate that went on and on and on between me and my supervisor last year. It may continue to go on for as long as there are practitioners who use these approaches.

Fortunately, more and more psychologists are moving towards integrated theories. Perhaps down the road, these kinds of disagreements won't be so strident.

Regards,
gg

gg