Individual Therapy
Counseling Modalities:
1. Solution Focused Therapy
A person's thought process oftentimes predicts the outcome of specific situations. A person may already have the answers to their problems by altering the way they look at a situation.
For example: a person with anxiety believes that things will turn out bad. If they believe this, then surely it will be the worst day in their life. These negative thoughts will guide their day and influence them to believe what they put in their head....negativity. This negative belief system will block out rational thoughts, and they will be trapped in their own thinking that nothing will go right and the anxiety is always there. They block out and avoid rational thoughts because the old irrational thoughts are their "old friend", and their old behavior. Therefore, feeling trapped and overwhelmed in a vicious cycle of negativity and anxiety.
How It Works:
Cognitive behavioral therapists believe that if we adjust our thoughts, we can affect how we believe and that can influence our behavior and emotions. This is a process called cognitive restructuring. Aaron T. Beck, the psychiatrist is considered to be the father of cognitive therapy.
For example: a person who is afraid of elevators and will not ride in them may have a belief that the doors will not open and that they will be stuck inside. Perhaps something like this has happened to them in the past that has shaped their mind and beliefs. Because it has happened to them once...they believe that it will happen to them again. Anxiety overtakes them just thinking about it and they avoid riding in elevators because of their belief system.
This belief system is based on a few assumptions:
- Overgeneralizing: If it is true in one setting ...it is true in more settings.
- Dichotomous thinking: Looking at the world in extremes- black and white/there is nothing in between.
- Selective abstractions: I look at the failures...not the successes.
- Excessive responsibility: All bad things happen to me.
Where we begin is to unlearn the negative reactions that the client has learned. This is achieved by replacing them with new positive, behavioral reactions to the old situations. If we break down the problems into manageable parts, reaching short-term goals, the person can adjust the way they feel about the situation that has always caused great anxiety to them.
Such as: The elevator door is closing.....I have my cell phone with me and have included an emergency number in case the door does not open so i will be fine. Or...I have included in my contacts the number of the dentist or the doctor I am visiting in this building so I am prepared in case something does happen...I can call them and they will rescue me!!!
Replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts will lessen the anxiety / as well as actually doing the act to strengthen the positive. Changing behaviors and attitudes can help people learn to address specific issues in positive and productive ways