Module 8 Clinical Skills

Psychoeducation

Providing the client with information about issues relevant to their presenting problem, tailored to their characteristics

ABCD Model

A framework in CBT where events (A) trigger thoughts (B) that lead to emotions (C) and behaviors (D).

Case Conceptualisation Feedback

A collaborative discussion about the therapist's understanding of the client's case

cognitive principle

events trigger cognitions, which in turn trigger emotions, and behaviour

behaviour principle

behaviour is imperative in maintaining and challenging cognition and emotion

continuum principle

mental health problems occur from exaggerated or extreme versions of normal processes, rather than being entirely distinct from normal processes

here-and-now principle

the focus of therapy should ne what is happening right now rather than distal causes of current problems

interacting systems principle

problems occur as an interaction between systems, including processes within (emotion, cognition, behaviour) and outside (environment) the individual

empirical principle

theories and treatments should be evaluated as rigorously as possible

interpersonal principle

the efficacy of CBT relies on the working alliance between the therapist and client

Cognitive Distortions

inaccurate and irrational thoughts that lead to distorted perceptions of reality

Automatic Thoughts

Immediately triggered appraisals of events that can be positive, neutral, or negative, and can easily become conscious

Core Beliefs

Fundamental beliefs about oneself, the world, and the future, which are not immediately accessible to consciousness and are often rigid statements

Underlying Assumptions

Rules for living that bridge the gap between core beliefs and automatic thoughts, often structured as 'if, then' statements

Thought Record

A CBT technique used to identify and measure thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in specific situations

Cognitive Restructuring

A process in CBT that involves identifying unhelpful thoughts, challenging their validity, and replacing them with more balanced or helpful ones

Coping Statements

Mantras or affirmations used to manage difficult situations, prepared beforehand and practiced regularly

Downward Arrow Technique

A Socratic questioning method used to reveal underlying core beliefs by exploring the meaning and implications of automatic thoughts

Behavioral Experiments

Tasks designed to test the validity of core beliefs by comparing predicted outcomes with actual experiences

Socratic Questioning

Guiding a person towards understanding by posing questions that challenge assumptions and explore perspectives.

all or nothing / dichotomising / perfectionishm / polarised thinking

thinking in total black and whites

overgeneralisation

generalising from one to all events

catastrophising

seeing things as worse than they are or expecting things to go very wrong

filtering

filtering out positives and magnfying negatives

disqualifying positives

turning neutral or positive events into negative ones

jumping to conclusions / mind reading

believing we knoe how others are thinking and feeling

attribution errors

believing we know a persons intentions

emotional reasoning

taking feelings as reality

shoulding

using should/ shouldnt / ought / must too often

hot thought

unhelpful thoughts that strongly trigger negative emotions