Topic 6: Automatic Thoughts & Core Beliefs {by 3/9}
[Automatic Thoughts] – Watch MDD-12: Automatic Thoughts – Negative Automatic Thought Record. Answer the following: (1) How is the client’s response to the outcome (emotionally and cognitively) helpful to understanding his distress? (2) What would be effective Socratic techniques to modify his negative automatic thought?
[Core Beliefs] – (1) How do core beliefs develop? (2) What is it about core beliefs that can make them a challenge to modify in therapy? (3) What are the therapeutic gains that come from modifying core beliefs?
Your original post should be posted by the beginning of class 3/9. Have your two replies posted no later than 3/11. *Please remember to click the “reply” button when posting a reply. This makes it easier for the reader to follow the blog postings.
Dr. Adam M Volungis 
Feb 28, 2023 @ 15:27:55
The client’s response to the outcome is helpful because it can give a lot of information as to how they respond to many situations. The therapist also gains some knowledge on how poorly they respond to the situation, so there is something to focus on and work on in session, or if there are any positive parts of their response that can be emphasized. Using Socratic questioning in the form of challenging his thoughts, asking for clarification, or even finding alternative viewpoints would be helpful. It would give him the ability to reassess the situation, his automatic thought, and his response, while finding better ways he could have responded and respond in the future.
Core beliefs develop at a young age, an individual develops ideas about themselves, the world, and others based on life experiences in everyday life. Core beliefs tend to be rigid, global, and overgeneralization beliefs that to the individual, are regarded as absolute truths despite them not necessarily being reasonable, accurate, or based on evidence making them difficult to change in therapy. In modifying core beliefs the individual gains, the ability to make more realistic expectations for themselves and the world around them as well as understanding that things are not absolute. These modifications can strengthen the therapeutic relationship and the client’s belief in the success of therapy.
Mar 06, 2023 @ 22:00:08
Hi Tiana!
I agree with your response. The client’s response to the outcome is helpful for both the therapist and the client because it provides further insight on the “what” and “why.” With a collaborative effort we can determine like you said, the automatic thoughts, his thought process on how he reacted, and what he can do better next time that is more adaptive. I like how you mentioned that for modifying core beliefs that the individual will be able to create more realistic expectations. This is significant because while it is important to stand for what we believe in, it is also important that those beliefs aren’t causing the individual to have maladaptive behaviors.
Mar 08, 2023 @ 16:54:01
Hi Tiana! I like that you mention that the issues clients face when responding to situations is important because it helps the therapist know what to work on with that client in session so that they can build up areas that need it. It’s also important to find the areas that client does well and find the small things they do in bad situations that are positive to help them recognize that while the whole situation doesn’t go well that they do have strengths they can rely on while building up the areas that need it. I also agree that in this case it’s good to challenge the client’s thinking when they express negative automatic thoughts because this can help them to begin to challenge those thoughts as well.
Mar 09, 2023 @ 14:47:46
Hey Tiana, I agree with you in my post that I think looking at the outcomes for M’s can help our understanding of his distress by showing us (over time and over different instances) patterns in his negative thinking and can give us insight into how to modify treatment to fit his specific goals and presented problems. If we can see how he typically responds to stressful stimuli we can get a better understanding on how to address the negative automatic thoughts that occur during those instances and even find patterns that could relate to maladaptive core beliefs.
Mar 04, 2023 @ 19:53:46
The client’s response to the outcome is helpful to understand as it is reflective of their core beliefs and also telling of how they typically respond to situations that are similar stressors. It helps the therapist to know which thoughts are influencing the client the most to tackle first. There is also the opportunity to discover silver linings in the client’s thinking; to clarify, the therapist may be able to find some positive aspects of their response to utilize in changing the negative aspects of the response. To modify Mark’s negative automatic thoughts, the Socratic techniques of challenging and forming alternative views may be the best approach. This can help Mark to really adapt the mindset of a more positive response when being challenged and can therefore use that on his own in times of negative automatic thought.
Core beliefs are rigid, generalized thoughts that an individual develops at a very young and formidable age. The thoughts encompass world views, self views, and views of others. These beliefs are absolute truths for the individual, thoughts and views that are so embedded that they cannot be easily changed. In modifying core beliefs, the individual gains perspective. To elaborate, they are able to think less rigidly and realize that these thoughts are not absolutes. This aids the client in to be more successful in therapy and also after therapy has been terminated.
Mar 06, 2023 @ 10:13:38
Hi Whitney! I agree with your response. The client’s response is a good indicator of a lot of things especially their core beliefs and can help the therapist find what issues should be the focus. It can also be used in a positive light like you stated. Helping the client see things that they may have done right rather than focusing on the negative. I also agree with the Socrative techniques you chose. Both of these can help Mark see better ways to manage the situations and his thoughts.
I also agree with your response on core beliefs. They can be very difficult to change however, if the therapist is successful in changing them, the client will be able to gain more out of therapy and gain better insight into life and think less in absolutes.
Mar 10, 2023 @ 12:27:50
Hi Whitney! I really like your mention that noting a client’s response to an outcome not only indicates what needs to be worked on, but also what has been done well. As with Mark, although he reacted with disappointment over his friend not accepting the lunch invitation, one strength to his response was that he did not let the circumstances stop him from still getting lunch anyways. These strengths can be played upon in further treatment to encourage further progress/modification of those areas that proved maladaptive. Strengths can be motivational and facilitate therapeutic engagement.
Mar 11, 2023 @ 15:52:08
Hi, Whitney! I like how you noted that therapists could use responses to the strongest core beliefs to determine what to work on first in treatment. Understanding what is most significantly impacting the client and prioritizing said issues can help promote better success in sessions, and progress can be accurately tracked with completed homework assignments. I also like your positive outlook on core beliefs having “silver linings.” It’s good to remember that core beliefs may have had or currently hold some level of truth. Therefore, while working with the client to change the maladaptive aspects of core beliefs, we must also validate the parts with truth.
Mar 04, 2023 @ 21:23:44
Mark’s emotional response to the outcome made sense, he expressed that he wanted to go to lunch with his coworker, and not getting the opportunity was a bit defeating. Cognitively, he realized that there was a bright side – he still went out to get lunch after experiencing the incident with his coworker. Before this video, I think Mark said that he would have become withdrawn in the past if something like this happened. So the fact that he recognized what happened in the past and could name it was helpful. It gave him insight into his previous emotional responses and helped him during the Socratic techniques. Some effective Socratic techniques include examining the evidence, finding alternate explanations, and creating space from negative automatic thoughts. These techniques can provide distance between clients and their negative automatic thoughts and give them the clarity to see beyond them.
Core beliefs develop from childhood, typically from being exposed to experiences and caregivers. They are deep-seated and reflect constant exposure to these unmoving beliefs. Additionally, core beliefs might not be 100% founded in truth, but to the individual, they are real, and right to believe in them. The hard part of modifying core beliefs is that they are so rigid. Explaining to someone that what they believe in is not true can be a shock, and some people might double down on their beliefs as a response. But when modifying core beliefs is successful, it can show clients that nothing in life is rigid. There will always be things that change rigidity into something more fluid. Realizing that it is okay if things change or do not go to plan could be what a client needs to learn from therapy. Once they understand this, they can apply this to their lives and see more of a benefit from therapy.
Mar 06, 2023 @ 10:19:48
Hi Esther! I agree with your response and also like how you focused more on the positive of what he did rather than what he had done wring or could have done better. The Socrative techniques you chose, examining the evidence, finding alternate explanations, and creating space from negative automatic thoughts, are great options to use when looking at Mark’s responses the way you had.
As for core beliefs, I also agree with what you had stated. Core beliefs are deeply rooted and very rigid. When someone challenges them, the client may retreat into what is comfortable and double down on their beliefs like you stated. When the therapist is successful in helping the client in modifying these beliefs the client’s life may be more fluid, there may be more positive outlooks created, and therapy may even become more successful.
Mar 09, 2023 @ 11:41:01
Hi Esther, I like the point that you made that it was important for Mark to reflect on his cognitive outcomes in order to visualize his own growth. Mark’s response demonstrates insight into his cognitive distortions and the understanding that they produce a cycle of negative thoughts and emotions. The Negative Automatic Thought Tracker can help clients, like Mark, find patterns in their maladaptive thoughts and behaviors and can gain more insight into how these affect them.
Mar 10, 2023 @ 09:02:49
HI Esther!
I totally agree that his response made sense, way to validate! I also agree that Socratic techniques are a great way to put distance between automatic thoughts and the client; they cannot always be changed but they do not have to be all consuming for the client as well for the entirety of their thoughts. In discussing core beliefs, I did to even think of responses from the client in modifying core beliefs and your point of doubling down is definitely a high probability response. That leads to double the work with the client to be able to undo these beliefs that are so rigid for the client.
Mar 11, 2023 @ 22:57:43
Hi Esther,
I really like how you mentioned that when clients learn how to modify their core beliefs they can see that life isn’t so rigid. I do think that modifying core beliefs is very difficult but it is possible. The modifying part will take some times as they have gone a good potion of their life or a while thinking their negative core beliefs is true. When clients begin to work and modify their beliefs this will allow them to see situations they deem as negative in a different perspective which allows them to see other things more positively or lightly.
Mar 05, 2023 @ 17:07:50
The client’s response to the outcome is helpful because it shows both the client and the therapist how they react to situations. Sometimes, many can react but do not understand why they suddenly reacted the way they did. With a method like the thought record, it can show the client the reasoning for the reaction. It can help them see what the emotions are behind it. The therapist can also help the client see what causes the distress and ways to cope with it. Both are able to work collaboratively to change the outcome of the behavior. There are some effective Socratic techniques that can help modify his negative automatic thoughts. One of them is examining the evidence of his thought. The therapist can ask the client what makes him think about this particular thought and the evidence for and against it. It is almost like challenging the thoughts with evidence to support them. A few more can include finding an alternative explanation for the client. In this, it can challenge the client’s explanation for their initial thought.
Core beliefs begin at a very young age. It is the individual’s views on themselves, others around them and the world. Individuals will put everything in their own perspective rather than someone else’s. Core beliefs can be developed through experiences the individual has gone through. It is what makes all of us different from each other. Though some core beliefs might be the same, everyone might have different beliefs. Some core beliefs can be realistic and functional. However some can also be rigid and absolute which can make it a challenge to modify in therapy. Core beliefs can also affect the individual’s mood throughout the day. If something happens, it can have an affect on the individual’s core beliefs. For example, on any day, someone can be in their usual mood (either taken in a positive or neutral way). However, something such as getting a test back, can either fluctuate the current mood or decrease it. Then all day, the individual will think about the test thinking things such as “I’m so stupid; I’m not smart enough; I’m a failure.” Sooner or later, the individual will have that mindset when they continue to take any exam. This mindset can affect them not only in school but also in their personal life. There are many therapeutic gains that come with modifying core beliefs. While modifying these core beliefs, it can give the client a sense of connection and empowerment. It can give clients a sense of control back into their core beliefs that turned negative throughout the years. While looking at the therapeutic gains, the relationship between the therapist and the client can increase. Along with the empowerment, it can make the client more motivated to create the change. Also with this, it allows the client and therapist to collaborate more in order to see the process of change.
Mar 06, 2023 @ 13:11:46
The client’s emotional and cognitive response to an outcome is helpful to understanding their distress because it gives the therapist insight into how the client perceives how “big” or “little” certain situations are to them. For example, one may think their coworker declined to get lunch because they packed one before work, are trying to save money, or are trying to get caught up on work. However, in Mark’s case, he believes that Jeff does not want to spend time with him, and Mark has considerable negative emotions as a result. When formulating an action plan with the client, understanding emotional and cognitive thought processes can help the therapist predict outcomes to other environmental stimuli. Dr. V’s textbook notes several Socratic techniques to help modify Mark’s negative automatic thoughts. For instance, shifting attributional biases or exploring possible alternative explanations would work best in this situation, given that Mark has already asked Jeff to get lunch and did not get the desired response. Asking if there were environmental factors or other possible explanations for declining the invite encourages Mark to think back on the event and assess beyond his internal processes to understand Jeff’s perspective. Examining the evidence by evaluating factors that support and contradict his automatic thought can promote cognitive restructuring and a better understanding of the reality of the event.
Core beliefs develop when an individual is at the most vulnerable points of their life. For many, said periods occur before adulthood when the individual is still biologically developing and interacting with significant figures. At times, core beliefs may have had some truth, but as the individual grows and evolves, the core beliefs no longer hold purpose. However, it is possible for core beliefs not to have any sense of truth. Core beliefs are challenging to modify because they are deeply ingrained into one’s mind, continuously reinforced by negative environmental stimuli, and biased. As a result, people often assume their core beliefs are plausible. However, when an individual learns to challenge their negative core beliefs, they learn to see themselves, others, and their environment from a different perspective and develop positive core beliefs to challenge and cope with negative ones. Moreover, interventions become more effective, and the client will see more success in therapy.
Mar 07, 2023 @ 20:55:58
Hi Megan, I agree that core beliefs develop during a very formative time. I think it might be important to point out that the manner of these core beliefs may have served as a protective factor and these views may have been what was holding people together. I like that you mentioned that modifying these deeply-rooted beliefs can help people better see themselves, others, and the world. Modifying these core beliefs can help clients better cope and adapt to different stressful situations.
Mar 06, 2023 @ 21:42:32
The client’s response to the outcome is helpful to understanding his distress because their thoughts and emotions can be reflective of their core beliefs. Modifying negative core beliefs has a significant impact on lowering an individual’s distress level. In addition, getting further information on a client’s feelings on how they reacted in a situation can reinforce potential negative core beliefs. Socratic techniques that would be helpful in modifying the negative automatic thoughts are examining the evidence, decatastrophize perceived negative outcomes, assessing the impact of believing negative automatic thoughts, and separating the self from the negative automatic thoughts. These techniques will allow the client and therapist to dive deeper in the root of these thoughts/core beliefs. The root cause will help determine where the thoughts are stemming from and provide some insight on how we can make changes.
Core beliefs can be described as rules for the self. These can be views or thoughts about oneself or the world. These thoughts are typically more rigid and harder to change. The 3 categories of core beliefs include helplessness, worthlessness, and unlovability. Core beliefs can be challenging to modify in therapy because since they are so ingrained in the individual, they become harder to modify. In some cases, it is not worth it to go in and explore modification. Therapeutic gains that come from modifying core beliefs are that they can result in new adaptive cognitive and behavioral patterns that can reduce stress.
Mar 08, 2023 @ 16:08:36
Hi Maria! I agree with your point that modifying core beliefs can help to alleviate the client’s distress. I think this is so crucial, especially because core beliefs work themselves into each aspect of a person’s life likely amplifying distress. I really like your point about core beliefs being the rules we set for ourselves. I did not make this connection previously and this really helps to explain why they are so difficult to modify.
Mar 11, 2023 @ 22:27:31
Hi Maria,
I agree that modifying core beliefs are very challenging. Core beliefs can be tricky as the individual is convinced that their negative beliefs are true. Working to modify the core beliefs can take a while as this is something they have believed for a long time however, it is something that can be done. Modifying the core beliefs can help them and help them asses situations more positively and see the situation in a different way rather than a negative one.
Mar 07, 2023 @ 15:13:34
It is important for clients to identify their emotional and cognitive outcomes in response to their negative automatic thoughts to visuzalize maladaptive thought or behavioral patterns. By tracking the outcomes, they can visualize how a negative automatic thought can activate a series of undesirable emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, thus maintaining their symptoms. Effective Socratic techniques may include examining the evidence, finding alternative explanations to the situation, and separating self from the negative core belief. First, I would ask Mark to think of any supporting evidence that his coworker does not want to spend time with him, ensuring that he distinguishes fact from assumptions. Next, Mark and I would brainstorm on potential explanations for his coworker not going to lunch: he was busy with work, he was stressed with family issues, he was trying to save money, etc. Lastly, I would assist Mark in separating himself from the negative automatic thought by asking how he would react to his girlfriend if she had the same thought. What would he tell her?
Core beliefs develop during childhood and adolescence and are maintained over time through selective attention to supporting evidence. Core beliefs develop through reciprocal interactions between major life events, social interactions, and biological predispositions. Some core beliefs may gain greater salience when the individual experiences excessive stress, but these core beliefs are less prominent with lower levels of stress. Core beliefs are difficult to modify because they are global ideas that are ingrained into the individual’s schemas of themselves, others, and the world. In addition, they are often expressed as automatic thoughts, which may be addressed during the therapeutic process first. Although they are difficult to identify, a client may find it easier to identify core beliefs if they have already practiced identifying automatic thoughts in the past. Modifying core beliefs or exchanging negative core beliefs with more adaptive ones can change the client’s thought patterns, such that they have a more realistic, positive outlook on themselves, others, and the world. In turn, the client may use adaptive coping strategies to manage stress and negative emotions.
Mar 08, 2023 @ 00:23:13
Hi Abby, I liked that you switched it up with having Mark think of how he would react hearing his partner mention having the same thoughts. I think it can be beneficial to hear your own words come from someone else. This can help with widening Mark’s ability to see things from other people’s perspectives. I agree with you in being able to differentiate between automatic thoughts first makes understanding core beliefs easier. Psychoeducation can encourage clients to practice these skills and help them better cope in stressful situations.
Mar 08, 2023 @ 16:57:10
Hi Abby! I love how you mention that when a client is able to identify a negative automatic thought that they can then see how that thought causes a series of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Often these thoughts, emotions, and behaviors just pop-up for people because they are unable to recognize their automatic thoughts that trigger them. Therefore, by recognizing that automatic thought the individual is able to interrupt that pattern of thoughts and behaviors and more effectively cope with the situation.
Mar 09, 2023 @ 14:42:21
Hey Abby, I had a similar idea on the Socratic technique to use with M to help modify his negative automatic thoughts (I said to examine alternative conclusions to challenge these thoughts) but I liked how you laid out further steps and options to use with challenging these thoughts. You’re right to view this as a progressive treatment strategy that ought to be done in stages rather than my suggestion to just challenge his initial thoughts.
Mar 07, 2023 @ 20:31:12
The client’s response can be helpful in understanding his level of distress by highlighting previous reactions to certain situations. With this information gathered by the NATR, both the client and therapist can be more aware of where these thought processes stem from and how the client reacted to a situation. Effective Socratic techniques to modify his automatic thought would be to explore possible alternative explanations and shift attributional biases. I think these two techniques go hand-in-hand especially with Mark’s cognitive distortion of personalization and mind-reading. These techniques can help me separate himself from the situation and observe how his thoughts affected his behavior. Rather than Mark attributing himself to the reason for rejection, coming up with alternative explanations can help Mark understand Jeff’s perspective. Perhaps Jeff had a busy work day and did not have time to go out for lunch.
Core beliefs develop in childhood but can also develop in adulthood. They are overgeneralized views about the self, others, and the world. Significant life events, important others, and genetics can influence core beliefs. They can be difficult to modify due to their rigid nature and are absolute truths to the individual. While they can be changed, they are biased and can be reinforced by supportive information and disregard evidence against them. Modifying negative core beliefs may diminish overall distress for clients. They can help change the way they view themselves, others, and the world. Moreover, developing more positive core beliefs can help clients with coping skills.
Mar 08, 2023 @ 16:06:29
Hi Grace! I agree with your point that tracking outcomes can help to identify where the thought processes stem from. It is so important to identify the starting point, as it provides insight into the pattern overall and what areas may be forming these beliefs within the individual. I like that you mentioned that socratic techniques would be helpful to Mark as they would seperate himself from the situation. This would help Mark tremendously as it would show him the other potential outcomes and the pattern he has to draw conclusions linked to a negative outcome.
Mar 08, 2023 @ 17:07:57
Hey Grace, I totally agree that the tracking can be incredibly helpful as it can give you an idea as to where these thoughts are stemming from. Especially when dealing with automatic thoughts because it can also help you to see patterns in how the client reacts to certain situations. Also, I definitely agree that changing negative core beliefs for more positive ones can assist in helping the client with their ability to cope. It seems that, for some clients, the core beliefs are the root of their maladaptive patterns so starting there with treatment can be tremendously helpful.
Mar 11, 2023 @ 21:58:24
Hi Grace!
I like the two Socratic techniques you suggested to be used for Mark. I think that it is very important for Mark to separate himself from the situation and come up with alternative reasons why Jeff turned down lunch. These techniques would allow Mark to think of other reasons why Jeff did not want to get lunch- did not have the money, had work to do, already ate, etc. Good post, Grace!
Mar 08, 2023 @ 16:03:00
If the client has a negative core belief, such as ‘I am unworthy’, they may respond neutrally to a negative outcome as they likely expected or anticipated it. This response is an indication of their beliefs about themselves. In other words, a person’s beliefs shape their expectations and their responses to the outcome. The client’s response provides insight into how they feel about themselves through the expectations they set for themselves. Additionally, if a core belief is being consistently observed in the person’s outcomes, there is a greater chance this belief is strong and may be harder to modify. To modify Mark’s negative automatic thoughts, I would challenge his thinking patterns by comparing them to reality and other perspectives. In addition, I would use the Socratic technique of examining the evidence to see the accuracy of these thoughts.
Core beliefs develop early in our life through our transactions with others and our environment. In addition, each of the experiences we have throughout our life contribute to our core beliefs. Core beliefs are difficult to challenge because they may be hard to recognize at first, especially if they are something we feel is absolutely true and have felt that way for the majority of our life. Because these beliefs are persistent and seen as the truth, they are difficult to modify. To modify them, we first have to recognize them, realize their impact on us, decide how to change them, and then implement the changes. When core beliefs are modified, the client may feel better in all aspects of their life and likely would attribute that success to therapy. This would likely help them to continue therapy and further work to better themselves.
Mar 10, 2023 @ 09:21:19
Hi Emily, I completely agree with you that if a client has a negative core belief they might respond neutrally to a negative outcome. This is why it’s important to track the client’s automatic thoughts as it helps not only the therapist, but the client find “triggers” and determine pinpoints that contributed to their distress. This will further facilitate insight for the client into their feelings about themselves and their expectations of themselves as you mentioned. Nice post!
Mar 10, 2023 @ 13:57:11
Hi Emily,
I agree with what you have said about portraying a negative response if they have negative core beliefs. It does provide insight on how they feel about themselves during different experiences or situations they had. It is important to understand this because then we can figure out the different triggers that can cause a negative response or core belief. I also agree that if the core belief is constantly in someone’s outcome, then there is a greater chance that the belief may be hard to modify. This is especially true if this core belief is a belief that the client had for a long time. However with Socratic techniques, it can be helpful for both the client and the therapist to modify the beliefs.
Mar 08, 2023 @ 16:10:38
Mark’s response to the outcomes is helpful for understanding his distress because it helps to formulate an idea as to how these thoughts are impacting his functioning. More specifically, how they are leading to these undesirable emotions and thus causing a cascading effect on other aspects of his life. There are many potential Socratic dialogue techniques that could help to modify his negative automatic thought. The first being examining the evidence. This could be beneficial because it could help us to help Mark to separate the facts of the situation from the assumptions he is making about it. For example, when Mark talks about his coworker declining lunch with him. From our perspective, there are many reasons as to why me might have said no, but Mark makes assumptions that are in line with his negative beliefs about himself. Examining the evidence would help him to distinguish between these assumptions he’s making and the actual facts of the situation. Another technique that could be helpful could be to list the advantages and disadvantages of the core belief. This one seems like it may not work with everybody, but it seems that Mark has a higher level of self-awareness than other clients may so this could be successful. For this technique, Mark and I would analyze how his beliefs have had an impact on his life both negatively and positively.
Core beliefs develop in childhood based on significant life events and interactions with others. There is also a degree of genetics and biological vulnerability that plays into their development. Upon origination, they typically serve a purpose and are sometimes valid as well. Core beliefs are very deeply engrained and are the origination point for automatic thoughts. They are also rigid, which makes them hard to change, and they tend to be an overgeneralized view about either oneself, the world, and/or others. The nature of core beliefs makes them inherently very difficult to modify. Additionally, they tend to be based on past experiences and typically at one time they were valid. This makes them even more difficult to modify because you must first teach your client that they are no longer valid. Another thing that makes them difficult to change in therapy is that in times of psychological distress the negative ones tend to get stronger. There are many therapeutic gains that can come from modifying negative core beliefs. Mainly, modifying them can help the client change how the view themselves, the world, and their interactions with other people.
Mar 09, 2023 @ 11:52:01
Hi Jack, I hadn’t thought about exploring the advantages and disadvantages of Mark’s negative automatic thought as a Socratic Technique. This may be useful to demonstrate how maintaining this thought may increase his distress, and dismissing the thought may lead to more adaptive outcomes. I agree with your point that the therapist should consider the client’s degree of self-awareness before employing this strategy, because the client must first be aware that they routinely experience this thought. The therapist may consider allowing the client to practice the negative automatic thought tracker a few times to begin to identify the thought.
Mar 08, 2023 @ 16:12:56
The client’s response is helpful to understanding his distress because the therapist is able to see not only the types of situations in which the client becomes distressed and experiences negative automatic thoughts, but also is informed of the types of negative automatic thoughts he has. Knowing the types of situations in which the client becomes distressed is important so that the therapist can work with the client on developing coping mechanisms to use when they encounter those situations and even coping mechanisms to prepare the client when they anticipate that a distressing event is about to occur. Learning to deal with or prepare oneself for distressing events can help to alleviate the level of distress reached by the client and can result in less coping mechanisms necessary when the event occurs. The client’s response is also helpful because it reveals the negative automatic thoughts that they have to the therapist. Negative Automatic thoughts can reveal deeper core beliefs, and once identified can also be worked on with the therapist to change them.
Core beliefs begin to develop from a young age. Core beliefs shape the way each individual views themselves, others, and world around them and greatly impact one’s thinking patterns. Core beliefs are developed through the individual’s experiences. Core beliefs can be difficult to modify in therapy because they are the foundation for individual’s thinking, are strongly held beliefs, and often develop early in life and then are held beliefs for a very long time until that individual starts to try and modify them in therapy. However, modifying core beliefs in therapy is important because often core beliefs are outdated or even invalid and help shape our view of ourselves, the world, and others. If these views are negative, modifying them can help the individual have a more positive view of themselves and the world which can help their overall disposition and mood. Modifying core beliefs can also result in a decrease or modification in negative automatic thoughts which can also have a very positive impact on an individual’s mood and overall mental state.
Mar 08, 2023 @ 17:05:07
Hey Becca, I liked your emphasis on the environment when discussing the client’s automatic thoughts. It is really important to keep in mind that the clients maladaptive functioning does not occur in a vacuum, the context in which these things occur is tremendously important when assisting the clients. It is especially important to consider when discussing matters that are so environmentally bases, like automatic thoughts as they usually occur as a reaction to something in the environment. Great job!
Mar 10, 2023 @ 13:46:42
Hi Becca,
I like what you have said about if we learn how to deal with distressing events can help us alleviate the level of distress. I do think that things such as the thought record can help us understand what can trigger us. Later on, we can then learn what coping mechanisms can help us decrease the level of distress we may have. This is especially important for clients because they might not fully understand why the situation has caused them distress. With charts such as the thought record, it can possibly give them more in depth reasoning behind the thought or reaction.
Mar 08, 2023 @ 18:48:32
Knowing Mark’s responses to outcomes allows us to understand his distress, as this allows us to see how he functions after the event both emotionally and cognitively. When he shares his reactions and responses during a situation it allows not only the therapist (Dr. V), but Mark, to observe a pattern of his responses to situations. This ties into core beliefs as they involve deep-rooted beliefs of ourselves from past situations. Additionally, monitoring his outcomes allows us to see what areas are more distressing on cognitive and emotional levels. This allows us to track his behaviors, thoughts, and emotions during and after the event. Which lays the foundation to incorporate additional therapeutic skills. With this, Socratic techniques would be a useful skill to use with Mark. Socratic techniques allow therapists to ask direct questions regarding the client’s negative automatic thoughts. This technique allows clients to eventually come to the “truth” of the situation, allowing for a more open perspective. Doing this technique with Mark would be beneficial as it would let Mark see that he is internalizing situations and gain a new perspective on his thought processes. Mark struggles with automatic thoughts and core beliefs around likability. Using this technique will help Mark gain a new perspective to help battle his negative automatic thoughts.
Core beliefs typically develop during our childhood through our life experiences. This can include interactions we have throughout our early development that can place impeding effects on the way we view ourselves. Similarly, through life events, core beliefs can develop. It is to be noted that everyone has core beliefs about oneself, they can either be negative or positive. With that significant life, events play a role in how one develops core beliefs, whether traumatic or successful. Lastly, there is a level of biological functioning that plays a role in one’s core beliefs and how they develop. Due to the early nature of the development of core beliefs, there is a difficult challenge to modify these beliefs as they have been embedded within us. With that, from our experiences, we fully believe these core beliefs as they are so deeply rooted. Which further impacts other areas such as our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Thus, when challenging and modifying core beliefs allows one to gain relief in many other areas. Modifying core beliefs allows for a new open perspective which will trail into other areas of life and facilitate a sense of productive coping skills.
Mar 08, 2023 @ 18:57:33
The outcome that Mark’s friend did not accept the invitation to get lunch, and therefore Mark got lunch alone, led to a few important responses that can help us better understand his distress. Initially, Mark appeared sad and disappointed that his friend turned down the lunch offer. He had expected himself to withdraw following situations with outcomes such as this, and the outcome seemed to reinforce unlikeability/unlovability—which he expressed/affirmed. Mark realized that he did still decide to get lunch—he didn’t completely withdraw and ignore his own wants/needs— which he considered a positive component to the situation. Nonetheless, emotional and cognitive responses to a particular outcome help conceptualize the level of distress that an automatic thought produces for a client. It points you in a firmer direction regarding which thoughts have more clinical utility. Effective socratic techniques to modify his negative automatic thought include exploring possible alternative explanations, examining beyond the situation for supportive and/or disconfirming evidence, and separating the self from the negative automatic thought. This would help the client reconsider the thought and challenge it, so as to modify new thoughts for future circumstances.
Core beliefs develop at an early age, as a result of various life events (both traumatic and/or positive), interactions with influential people, and one’s biology (predisposing factors such as temperament, skills/lackthereof, intelligence, etc). The more of these that reinforce a core belief, the stronger that belief will become. They are difficult to modify in therapy because they are ingrained (largely since childhood), pervasive, and global. They may feel like a part of one’s experience so much so that modifying it feels like shifting how one exists and views the world. Therapeutic gains that come from modifying core beliefs include the adoption of more adaptive cognitive and behavioral patterns that can reduce distress. Ultimately, modifying core beliefs can help a client view the world from a different lens, leading to new thoughts and behaviors that facilitate an enhanced quality of life.
Mar 09, 2023 @ 08:13:48
Hi Maggie, I really like your response to core beliefs. I think you did a great job of identifying all the important parts. Your comment about one’s core beliefs changing how someone exists in the world was really interesting to me. Ultimately, everything we experience is through our own lens of the world, even how we see ourselves in the context of the situation. I hadn’t taken the thought further than just how we view ourselves, but these core beliefs also determine how we think others see us.
Mar 08, 2023 @ 22:16:33
Mark’s response to the outcome is helpful when understanding his distress because it provides an overview of how he is responding to situations. This can help both the therapist and the client pinpoint what needs to be worked through during the session. It is also important for the therapist to pick out any positive aspects of their response as this could help in changing the negative aspect of the situation. Some effective Socratic techniques that would help Mark modify his negative automatic thoughts would be examining the evidence and finding alternative explanations. It is important for Mark to explore other options for what happened with his coworker and realize that he has an assumption of what happened, however, there could be a million other versions of the ‘truth’. Mark had mentioned his coworker has joined him for lunch in the past so it may help to remind him of this while also exploring reasons as to why he did not join this time around. The possible options of how he may have been having a busy day had an urgent task to complete or had brought a lunch from home, etc.
Core beliefs develop within the early stages of life through one’s experiences, interactions with others, and the environment. Due to core beliefs being formed so early in an individual’s life, it is extremely challenging to modify the belief. The belief becomes so deeply rooted within the individual that it feels like it is the truth. This can have many negative impacts on the individuals’ thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Modifying core beliefs within therapy provides the client with the opportunity to have a different perspective of situations, which can help an individual be more present within the moment and have more positive experiences.
Mar 09, 2023 @ 08:04:36
Hi Melissa, I really like your idea about different versions of the “truth” A lot of times we assume that we are right simply because we think it, but nobody is right all the time. Being open to other explanations would make it more likely that we can actually find the most accurate solution. Being stubborn about what we believe is most often not helpful when trying to come to an agreement with someone or finding the real truth.
Mar 11, 2023 @ 16:40:17
Hi, Melissa! The Socratic techniques you described would be very effective for Mark. While watching the videos, it sounded like Mark had a positive working relationship with Jeff. However, he was analyzing it with tunnel vision in this given situation. Mark’s core beliefs about others canceling plans or declining invites made him automatically conclude that it was happening again. Exploring other options, as you stated, can help Mark rationalize the reality of the situation and perceive the world from another point of view.
Mar 09, 2023 @ 07:54:53
Knowing what a client’s responses are can give some insight into their thought processes and help identify where the actual issue is, whether that be in the appraisals they are making about the situation or their ability to handle the situation. This will show the therapist where their attention is needed most and what the first tactic should include. Some effective techniques for Mark to use would be examining the evidence and finding alternate explanations. Mark is aware that not all of his thoughts are valid, and he knows that he will ruminate for long periods of time after, so taking the extra step and looking at the situation again may help him see the flaw in his thinking. When finding alternate explanations, Mark may not completely believe what he comes up with, but it should at least provide some kind of buffer between his catastrophized thought and what he immediately thinks is true.
Core beliefs are developed over time from a young age. These are often made in response to key instances and relationships in an individual’s life and come to shape how the person views themself and the world. These are difficult to address because they are often automatic and basically subliminal, so the client doesn’t realize they are relying on a core belief, they just think it is truth. These beliefs are also rigid because they were likely based on evidence at some point in time. If a young student struggled in school for a long time, they may come to think of themself as stupid or unintelligent. From that point on, they will assume that every choice they make or idea they have is automatically the least intelligent one, even if they find something that they are really good at. Core beliefs permeate all the thought processes the individual has so it is important to address them if they are holding the client back. Changing those beliefs that are negative will improve the client’s self-efficacy and confidence. If they have a more accurate understanding of the world, they will also be better equipped to handle the stressful situations they face.
Mar 10, 2023 @ 09:14:20
Hi Mikayla!
I agree that gaining insight on how a client responds to certain situations or issues is a great way to find out where to focus the work in therapy, either the appraisals or the ability they present to handle the situation. Alternate explanations is a great technique for Mark’s situation and I think you are right in that he may not believe what he comes up with, but it is a good way to bring a buffer between the reality and his thoughts. I also think we see this in the following video when he compares his negative automatic thoughts to these alternates and verbal admits he feels ‘silly’ about his thoughts. I really like the phrase ‘automatic and basically subliminal’ for describing core beliefs because it really paints how the client is pretty much unaware of it most of the time. Awesome example of the student in school to really explain core beliefs!
Mar 10, 2023 @ 12:12:37
Hi Mikayla! I like your point here about the relevance of utilizing alternate explanations with Mark. I agree that, especially initially, it may be difficult to actually believe the alternate explanations–especially when he had spent so much time and emotional energy investing his thoughts in to a different maladaptive belief. But, as you said, these proposed alternate explanations can at least function as a sort of buffer, in such a way that they provide Mark with other thoughts to ponder / take his mind off of what he thought was true (his unlikeability). After additional socratic techniques, perhaps these alternate explanations will seem more plausible to him.
Mar 09, 2023 @ 11:37:21
Knowing how M responded to the outcome of this stressful event is helpful in understanding his distress because it gives us a look as to how in that moment how he thinks about himself when presented with similar stressful situations and how he chooses to cope when they occur. In this instance, M had the automatic thought response that “Jeff doesn’t want to spend time with me” shows us a possible pattern of internalization and personalization that could be useful when helping him learn to modify that thinking. Behaviorally, we see him withdraw by going to eat a less healthier meal by himself. This reiterates for us his general coping strategies of withdrawal as a means to deal with these automatic thoughts and subsequent feelings. This shows us that we ought to help teach him some more adaptive coping skills that don’t lead him to possible ruminating and other destructive thought patterns. The Socratic technique that we should use to modify this negative automatic thought is challenging the thought with alternative conclusions. We should offer other explanations and test their validity in comparison to his original thought that “Jeff doesn’t want to spend time with me.” Other conclusions like “Maybe Jeff is busy” or “Jeff brought food from home today” could be a possible answer to why he did not go out with M that afternoon.
Core beliefs are often developed in childhood due to life events or learned from repeated events. They are difficult to modify in therapy because they are considered to be rigid belief systems around which other thoughts are filtered through. These are long standing beliefs that have been reinforced through years of repeating them and believing in their legitimacy. It is still beneficial to work on modifying core beliefs because you can help clients further believe and validate positive core beliefs which will in turn help perpetuate more positive thinking and analysis of their thoughts and events around them. This can help the client to learn how to help themselves and not rely on the therapist to help them change their maladaptive thinking patterns, as it is addressing the issue at its core.
Mar 10, 2023 @ 00:16:40
Hi Lucy,
Your point about continuing to work on core beliefs despite their rigidity is crucial. Even though clients’ core beliefs are things clients may have grown up hearing, experiencing, or believing, taking the time to chip away at them is much better than doing nothing at all. And doing nothing is a bit unethical (to me at least). As you said, introducing and validating more positive core beliefs could alter the way the client sees themselves or others in the world. And that change can certainly positively affect their treatment outcomes.
Mar 12, 2023 @ 12:39:26
Lucy,
I thought it was a great point to include that the outcome helps to view how he chooses to cope with the situation that occurs. I also like that you specified his pattern of internalization and personalization as those would be important factors the therapist should focus on. I also liked that you stated it would be important to teach him more adaptive coping skills in order to decrease his destructive thought patterns.
Mar 09, 2023 @ 14:25:47
Monitoring how a client responds to the outcome, both emotionally and cognitively is vital to the therapeutic process. When a therapist can gather details surrounding a client’s thoughts (cognitions) and feelings (emotions), it helps them to understand specific beginning/starting points (or triggers) to these outcomes and the context surrounding the event. Within the videos with Mark, we are able to understand the extent of how he felt a specific way or how intense the feelings surrounding Mark’s experiences are. Additionally, collaborating with the client about the outcomes of their thoughts, feelings, and eventually, behavior helps clients understand their own behaviors. To this point, we learn that Mark is able to gain more insight into how he ruminates on negative experiences such as the lunch plans with Jeff, and places some amount of blame and guilt on himself when they do not go as planned. Socratic techniques are a great way to gain insight about a client and also a great way for the client to gain insight about their negative thoughts. As the text states, these techniques help to contribute more autonomy to a client and less emphasis on therapists explaining to their clients how they feel or think, regardless if they have an adequate understanding. With regard to certain Socratic techniques that could be used to modify Mark’s negative automatic thoughts, there are a few. Examining the evidence regarding Mark’s negative thoughts to determine if they are valid is a great way to allow Mark to evaluate himself in an insightful and proactive manner. Another technique that could be used for Mark is exploring possible alternative explanations for why Jeff may have said no to going to lunch. Both of these techniques would be useful in modifying his negative thoughts because it helps Mark to separate himself from his inaccurate interpretations of why Jeff was unable to get lunch with him. If Mark is able to understand alternative explanations for Jeff’s decline, he is able to take on another perspective and ideally, place less blame and doubt on himself. Additionally, these techniques are useful in helping Mark not ruminate on the event and how he may negatively feel about it because his thoughts are shifted to a more accurate and positive manner.
Core beliefs develop throughout our lives but tend to form in late childhood and early adolescence. Core beliefs form through the cultural and societal standards we are surrounded by. Additionally, these beliefs develop specifically for a particular person through their own experiences and environmental contexts. To this point, many people have core beliefs that are rooted in how they believe they are viewed by others, especially their family members and significant peers. It is important to understand that core beliefs may not accurately reflect the values and characteristics of a client but because they are conditioned to believe them based on a continuum throughout their lives a client believes them to be true. It is when a client holds maladaptive core beliefs that their functioning is negatively affected. Core beliefs can be hard to modify in therapy for a few reasons. First, core beliefs are typically unrecognizable to the client as they are used to thinking and feeling about themselves in that type of way. Second, core beliefs begin to form throughout childhood and into early adolescence, making them harder to change because a client is accustomed to those beliefs. Additionally, core beliefs can be upheld and influenced by other people in a client’s life. With regard to therapeutic gain, modifying core beliefs is extremely impactful on the well-being of a client. For example, when a negative core belief is modified to more accurately represent a person, it helps to provide them with insight surrounding their automatic thoughts and understanding of the contexts they occur in.
Mar 10, 2023 @ 09:15:31
Hi Alysha, I agree with your statement on using Socratic techniques as a way to build insight. The process of Socratic techniques helps the client gain a new perspective on their negative automatic thoughts. Using this technique will also help modify one’s core beliefs as well over time. Examining the evidence is the crux of this skill. I agree that when examining the evidence for Mark, we will be able to provide new insight but validate simultaneously. Great post!
Mar 09, 2023 @ 16:10:25
Automatic Thoughts
1: Mark’s automatic thoughts reveal a pattern of personalization, as well as a tendency to think of himself as unlikable. His response to Jeff’s reluctance reveals some of these patterns. He assumes that Jeff’s refusal is a personal insult and sees it as evidence of his unlikability. His hurt feelings stem from a perception of real rejection, and from his belief that the rejection is a valid judgment on his general likability and worth.
2: In a gentle and cooperative tone, it might be helpful to discuss other possible interpretations than the one offered. There is always the possibility that there is another explanation for Jeff’s behavior. Jeff may be busy with other things or be anxious about spending money on lunch. Even if Jeff actually is as dismissive as Mark feels he is, we might question whether Jeff’s opinion is more valid than the more supportive friends in Mark’s life.
Core Beliefs
1: Core beliefs are very deeply held values and assumptions that we develop early in life. Our accumulation of life experiences, as well as the values that others impress us with, come together to form these core beliefs. These beliefs can develop and change over time, though they are more deeply rooted than automatic thoughts. Further life experience can modify our beliefs, especially dramatic and unexpected life events such as the loss of a job.
2: Core beliefs are not necessarily conscious in our minds, though they inform most of our conscious cognition. They can seem so fundamental and obvious that we do not stop to question them. Shifting focus to the possibility of another perspective can take real effort, especially if the core belief is connected with strong emotions. Questioning such beliefs can be scary. Even ones that seem to only cause us suffering can seem preferable to the challenge of forging a different perspective on life.
3: Although it is challenging, modifying core beliefs can be extremely helpful for distressed individuals. Since core beliefs give rise to automatic thoughts, altering core beliefs can be a more permanent solution than modifying the thoughts themselves.
Mar 10, 2023 @ 00:08:42
Hi Jonas,
I appreciate how you included what kind of tone would be necessary to use with Mark or any similar client. Using this tone and the strategies you mentioned is a sure way to gently but firmly prod the client into hearing and cognitively understanding these thoughts. Having this foundation is essential when addressing future thoughts rooted in high emotion (like automatic thoughts) and can help a client change their thinking patterns and beliefs.
Mar 11, 2023 @ 11:25:00
Hi Jonas,
You make a very important point regarding the type of tone that a clinician needs to use during a therapy session. As you said using a tone that is both gentle and cooperative is important when you are discussing sensitive matters with the client. Some things the client may say may sound very unrealistic to the clinician, yet the client may believe it. This is why using a gentle tone to get different points and interpretations across is very important. If a clinician used more of a judgmental tone the client will never really trust the clinician because they will feel judged and like an outcast.
Mar 11, 2023 @ 21:30:04
Hi Jonas!
I like how you emphasize speaking to Mark in a gentle and cooperative tone. It is so important to talk to clients that way in general, but especially when challenging their negative automatic thoughts and core beliefs as individuals view these ideas as absolute truths. Counselors should not be dismissive of these thoughts, but rather should aim to seek further clarification of these thoughts. Great post!
Mar 09, 2023 @ 17:59:57
The client’s emotional and cognitive response to an outcome is helpful to understand their distress. The level of distress can provide insight into the client’s automatic thoughts and core beliefs, such as what type of situation brings out these thoughts/ beliefs and any patterns. In addition, the client’s response to certain outcomes can highlight how the client reacts to various situations. Mark admitted that he was bummed when his coworker did not want to get lunch with him. Mark previously stated that he is quick to assume the worst in a situation as he assumed his coworker was upset with him instead of just being busy with work. One effective Socratic technique that can be used to modify his negative automatic thoughts is challenging. Challenging Mark’s negative automatic thoughts may show weaknesses or lapses in his automatic thought that demonstrates the thought does not hold high validity. Another Socratic technique to modify Mark’s automatic thoughts is to provide alternative explanations. Discussing other reasons why his coworker did not want to get lunch may help Mark realize that there are other valid reasons why the coworker could not attend lunch.
Core beliefs are overgeneralized views about self, others, and the world that develop during childhood and adolescence. These beliefs are maintained and supported over time through significant life events and one’s environment. Core beliefs are very rigid in nature and are regarded as absolute truths. Core beliefs are challenging to modify in therapy because these beliefs are heavily biased, meaning the individual may recognize supporting information despite being presented with contrary evidence. Core beliefs act as a prototype for how people perceive, think, and respond to their environment. If these beliefs can be modified during therapy, then the client’s overall view of themselves, others, and their environment will change.
Mar 09, 2023 @ 18:14:02
Mark’s response to the outcome is helpful to understand his struggles and distress because it allows the therapist to figure out what is causing the distress and work around it. The response will also allow the therapist and client to work together to change what needs to be changed and help him shift negative actions into more positive ones. Effective socaratic techniques to modify Mark’s negative automatic thoughts is to challenge his thoughts and try to show him ways to shift them into more positive thoughts with evidence. Other ways would also be to think of the thoughts in a different way and have him see them in a lighter way and show him that there are positive alternatives to his thought.
Core beliefs are the more profound thoughts and emotions that stem from how one thinks about themself, others, and the world. Core beliefs can be hard to modify in therapy because if the client believs that their negavitve core beliefs are true when they aren’t they will struggle to see otherwise especially if they have gone a long time believing it. Additionally, if the individual goes through a situation that validates their core belif, this will add to the struggle of modifying as they are convinced there is no potential in changing. However, if the client were to modify their core beliefs there would be a gain. The client would be able to handle a negative situation in a more positive way and not beat themself up about it. They will also be able to process the situation and not tie it back to their negative core belief.
Mar 11, 2023 @ 09:59:14
Hi Rena,
You make a great point about how important it is to use Socratic techniques to work with the client to change their negative thought patterns. If a client is constantly thinking and talking in a negative manner, even if the thoughts are automatic it can really affect them. That is why as a clinician it is important to spend time working with the client to find ways that will make them think in a more positive manner. Teaching a client ways to engage in positive self-talk is often an underestimated technique, but it can make a world of a difference.
Mar 12, 2023 @ 12:36:06
Rena,
I agree it is important to show Mark different ways of thinking about the situation in order for him to stop thinking so negatively. I believe asking him If his girlfriend Melissa was in this type of situation what would he say to her, this could bring up a lot for him and show how hard he is being on himself. You brought up a great point about if the individual goes through a situation that validates their core belief this can add to the challenge of modifying it. It is hard because they have had experiences that validate it or they have just had the belief for so long it seems odd to not be true. Great points
Mar 09, 2023 @ 22:11:26
1.Watching this client session enforces the idea of the powerful impact that core beliefs links with a person’s ways of thinking and the ways it could change his cognitive processes, when being in a particular situation. When watching Marc video was truly interesting how he primary had difficulties to remember the main evidence against his belief that his co-worker did not like him. This fact supports the above idea that Marc cognitive process, dominated by his negative automatic thoughts impacted and limited his views toward a situation. Therefore, when he was able to remember due to the Socratic technique used in the session, he seemed more relived emotionally, and able to view his situation more objectively. Consequently, in this case the client self-awareness about using these techniques when being in similar situations, would not help him modify his cognitive approaches, but also would help him control his emotional responses in more adaptive ways than he previously did.
I think that examining the evidence in this case combined with thought challenging and alternative explanations was beneficial and helpful for Marc to continue adapting these skills in his daily situations. One positive aspect in the video is that Mark is at the phase where he understood the gist of how the connection of his negative automatic thoughts linked to his cognitive thinking, and emotional state.
2.Core beliefs are the roots of automatic thoughts that could lead to psychological disturbances where the individual is struggling to adoptedly function in diverse areas of his life. While they could originate from significant/ traumatic events that have impacted the individual, it could be difficult for people to track them, especially when being formed at a young age. As it is discussed
One of the challenged to modify core beliefs in therapy is that having them for a long time, it might be hard for the individual to accept or be willing to be presented with other challenging ways of thinking, especially when going through psychological difficulties. In addition, because they are linked to the automatic thoughts that are also challenging to identify for some individuals, it could make the process more complex. The stage where the person including his intrapersonal state, environmental factors etc. could also have impact the person behavior when being challenged to identify these beliefs.
As it was demonstrated in Mark’s case, was shown that the therapeutic gains were both cognitively and emotionally. The client was able to understand that the ways he was evaluating the situation could be inaccurate, especially when the examination of evidence technique was used. In addition, he immediately showed positive emotional response which is a key element to improve his psychological situation.
Mar 11, 2023 @ 16:43:55
Olgena, I really appreciate how you mention the impact trauma and major stress place on an individual and how these events can shape their core beliefs both internally (beliefs about themselves) and externally (beliefs about their environment). I agree with you that in order to gain a better understanding of clients thinking patterns and their presenting issues, it is vital to know the link between what influences a person to think and feel a certain way, rather than just focus on the thoughts and feelings exclusively. Nice work
Mar 09, 2023 @ 23:39:14
When assessing a client, identifying and understanding the client’s response to a certain outcome is essential as it will help us better understand their core beliefs and allow us to see how they respond to similar stressful situations. Assessing a client’s response can help the clinician better understand which thoughts are greatly influencing and affecting the client the most. It can also allow us to see how the individual is affected both emotionally and cognitively by different situations and what situations trigger them the most. If a clinician can identify how the client responds to stressful situations they will be able to use these responses to hopefully redirect the responses in the future. The hope is that you can utilize the responsive behavior and redirect the client to a less distressing and more positive response. As we saw in the video Mark did have some negative automatic thoughts. To help change these negative thoughts we could implement Socratic techniques. Socratic techniques are most often used to challenge the client’s thoughts and help them form alternative views and emotions. Using Socratic techniques can help Mark change his negative mindset as his viewpoint will be challenged. This would hopefully help Mark form more of a positive outlook on his life and in turn, change his negative automatic thoughts to more positive ones.
Core beliefs are deeply held beliefs by an individual or the world. The beliefs are deeply embedded in the individual’s thinking and behaviors. They play a significant role in shaping an individual’s relationships and behaviors. The core beliefs and individual holds may or may not be realistic. These core beliefs develop at times when an individual is most vulnerable. These core beliefs are most often set in childhood or years prior to adulthood. This is because the child is learning from their environment and developing their beliefs based on their upbringing and family life. These core beliefs can be changed and modified as the individual grows and evolves, but some are so ingrained that they are extremely hard to change. When an individual’s core beliefs are constantly reinforced, either positively or negatively this causes the individual to believe that they are true and plausible. With that being said when an individual is able to learn how to change and modify their core beliefs in therapy they will be able to gain a different perspective. Doing this can help the individual view their environment, relationships, and situations from a more positive perspective. The hope and therapeutic goal is for the individual to be able to modify the negative core beliefs and change them into more positive beliefs. This will help the individual find more positive coping mechanisms and effective interventions that will make the client more successful in therapy as well as in their life.
Mar 11, 2023 @ 16:55:00
Hi Stephanie, I agree with you that identifying and assessing a client’s response to certain outcomes is essential to understanding which thoughts and feelings are predominately having an effect on the client’s maladaptive behavior. I like this point you make because it emphasizes that CBT does not involve therapists telling a client how to think and feel in order to get better. Rather CBT is a collaborative process to help clients modify other thoughts, feelings, and behaviors through the insight they gain when their major distress is focused on in session & treatment interventions (such as the ones discussed throughout the negative automatic thought record). Additionally, I like your mention of core beliefs being held by the world and not just individual clients. I think this helps to emphasize the idea that many of us actually share similar values and beliefs about ourselves and our environment. Mentioning this to clients is a great way to validate how they feel and normalize their distress.