Not bravery...

CepheidVariable · Mar 15, 2019, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear

CBT (one practitioner) told me my thoughts were “wrong” ... it even told me that learning the piano was dysfunctional (to “comfort myself” - said with a snarl

)

I wish I hadn’t listened to that

What? The cur! Piano is one of the best things that ever happened to my mental health struggle! Who is this guy? Let's go into the forest and find the answer to "how many practitioners can be stuffed into a picnic basket?"

But, seriously -- what I wanted to respond to was the notion of "wrong".

In my experience, CBT works so much better when it is framed as finding ways of thinking and thoughts that are more helpful and flexible for that client. Telling the client they are simply wrong is bound to provoke resistance ... and in a complicated world with grey areas, can't be said absolutely anyways. So that's just wrong.

It also sounds bizarre. CBT is supposed to be about the client doing the work and evaluating things on their own with guidance and encouragement. It's not supposed to be about being told what is right and wrong.

Poor Fuzzy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear

I read part of a book on CBT.. I think it could be helpful for some with “mild” depression (but not if callousness is part of the prescription

Well, it didn't really move the needle on the depression for me, but helped with the social anxiety and self-esteem stuff over time. I do much better with the behavior stuff, and it wasn't as rigidly structured as most instances of CBT. All of which was okay, because when my other issues get better, my depression lifts.

But then my current therapist (the first to be adequate), said of one of our early attempts, "I think this is making you feel worse. Let's try something else." So he's okay and not rigid in his approach.

I like the DBT approach: be adaptable and try many things to find what works for *this* client. I think I like Marsha Linehan's style.

Fuzzybear · Mar 15, 2019, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CepheidVariable

What? The cur! Piano is one of the best things that ever happened to my mental health struggle! Who is this guy? Let's go into the forest and find the answer to "how many practitioners can be stuffed into a picnic basket?"

But, seriously -- what I wanted to respond to was the notion of "wrong".

In my experience, CBT works so much better when it is framed as finding ways of thinking and thoughts that are more helpful and flexible for that client. Telling the client they are simply wrong is bound to provoke resistance ... and in a complicated world with grey areas, can't be said absolutely anyways. So that's just wrong.

It also sounds bizarre. CBT is supposed to be about the client doing the work and evaluating things on their own with guidance and encouragement. It's not supposed to be about being told what is right and wrong.

Poor Fuzzy.

Well, it didn't really move the needle on the depression for me, but helped with the social anxiety and self-esteem stuff over time. I do much better with the behavior stuff, and it wasn't as rigidly structured as most instances of CBT. All of which was okay, because when my other issues get better, my depression lifts.

But then my current therapist (the first to be adequate), said of one of our early attempts, "I think this is making you feel worse. Let's try something else." So he's okay and not rigid in his approach.

I like the DBT approach: be adaptable and try many things to find what works for *this* client. I think I like Marsha Linehan's style.

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Not bravery...

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