Phrase-y-ology series
Do you mean what you say? When you say “If you can’t handle me at my worst, then you don’t deserve me at my best,” what does that actually mean? In true CBT- like fashion, we dissect this phrase to see what it really means. How do you determine what someone deserves? Is this phrase valid? We conclude that the phrase actually means: “If you can’t support me at my lowest point, you are not worthy of me at my most content because of how much you hurt me by not supporting me when I needed it.” See how we got there.
The Problem With Subscription Therapy
We often don’t question services that are convenient and seemingly reduce barriers to treatment; however, convenience may be incongruent with what is therapeutic…Having a service with therapy on demand is going to reinforce the cycle of depending on others for their own wellbeing. There are other examples as well such as with clients who may have attachment issues, OCD, phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, etc. where therapy on demand is counter productive. We have a term for behaviors that enable and reinforce a maladaptive coping style in anxiety: safety behaviors…Many treatments have a protocol that is evidence based, which may also be difficult to implement with therapy on demand. Sure, it might be better than not seeking therapy at all, but do the results result in improved long term functioning? It is increasingly important that practitioners in these settings provide recommendations to the client for other therapeutic avenues if the current modality is not demonstrating symptom or distress reduction. It is a clinicians duty to understand the limitations of a treatment and the settings in which it was not validated. This is our ethical responsibility. Just like anything else these days with catchy advertising, please ask many questions to make sure the service you will get is the service you are seeking and will meet the needs that you have.
…But what if you don’t know what needs you have? This is a topic for another post. But! We have an upcoming service that can help with this. Therapy Needs Assessment.
Phrase-y-ology series
“Good things come to those who wait” is a common phrase. In true CBT -like fashion, we dissect this phrase and assess whether it is more helpful or harmful.
We apply information that we know (or that is familiar- like a phrase) to justify our behavior. Phrases seep into our thoughts and beliefs. Our behavior gets reinforced (or more automatic) when we justify it. This is essentially describing a cognitive behavioral therapy cycle of thoughts, emotions, and behavior. If we tell ourselves little white lies that seem true all in the name of self-preservation, we aren’t allowing ourselves to change and rise to the occasion because we never learn WHAT to change, or HOW to rise. (This is the reinforcement of the cycle in cognitive behavioral therapy). We need to challenge assumptions in order to think outside of the box in a way that makes us most successful. If the cause of behavior is a value or an assumption that we never questioned, then we tend to generalize the context in which this is most valid. However, if we never question when it might be invalid, we could end up with a cause and effect that doesn’t serve us (maladaptive).
Ebook coming soon
What to know when starting therapy. Ebook by Within Sight.
