A Technique: Generating Alternative Thoughts

Introduction: One of the basic techniques of cognitive therapy is examination of automatic thoughts and reducing the belief in them. By employing this, we can overcome the cognitive bias apparent in mental disorders. Despite this view, according to another cognitive perspective in a given situation,...

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Main Authors: Serkan AKKOYUNLU, M. Hakan TÜRKÇAPAR
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kare Publishing 2013-03-01
Series:Bilişsel Davranışçı Psikoterapi ve Araştırmalar Dergisi
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ejmanager.com/mnstemps/77/77-1366291072.pdf?t=1368776296
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author Serkan AKKOYUNLU
M. Hakan TÜRKÇAPAR
author_facet Serkan AKKOYUNLU
M. Hakan TÜRKÇAPAR
author_sort Serkan AKKOYUNLU
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: One of the basic techniques of cognitive therapy is examination of automatic thoughts and reducing the belief in them. By employing this, we can overcome the cognitive bias apparent in mental disorders. Despite this view, according to another cognitive perspective in a given situation, there are distinct cognitive representations competing for retrieval from memory just like positive and negative schemas. In this sense generating or strengthening alternative explanations or balanced thoughts that explain the situation better than negative automatic thoughts is one of the important process goals of cognitive therapy.Objective: Aim of this review is to describe methods used to generate alternative/balanced thoughts that are used in examining automatic thoughts and also a part of automatic thought records. Alternative/balanced thoughts are the summary and end point of automatic thought work. In this text different ways including listing alternative thoughts, using examining the evidence for generating balanced thoughts, decatastrophizing in anxiety and a meta-cognitive method named two explanations are discussed. Different ways to use this technique as a homework assignment is also reviewed. Remarkable aspects of generating alternative explanations and realistic/balanced thoughts are also reviewed and exemplified using therapy transcripts. Conclusion: Generating alternative explanations and balanced thoughts are the end point and important part of therapy work on automatic thoughts. When applied properly and rehearsed as homework between sessions, these methods may lead to improvement in many mental disorders
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series Bilişsel Davranışçı Psikoterapi ve Araştırmalar Dergisi
spelling doaj-art-54c2c9b914804f08919f11220592ada42025-02-03T10:15:45ZengKare PublishingBilişsel Davranışçı Psikoterapi ve Araştırmalar Dergisi2146-94902013-03-01215359A Technique: Generating Alternative ThoughtsSerkan AKKOYUNLUM. Hakan TÜRKÇAPARIntroduction: One of the basic techniques of cognitive therapy is examination of automatic thoughts and reducing the belief in them. By employing this, we can overcome the cognitive bias apparent in mental disorders. Despite this view, according to another cognitive perspective in a given situation, there are distinct cognitive representations competing for retrieval from memory just like positive and negative schemas. In this sense generating or strengthening alternative explanations or balanced thoughts that explain the situation better than negative automatic thoughts is one of the important process goals of cognitive therapy.Objective: Aim of this review is to describe methods used to generate alternative/balanced thoughts that are used in examining automatic thoughts and also a part of automatic thought records. Alternative/balanced thoughts are the summary and end point of automatic thought work. In this text different ways including listing alternative thoughts, using examining the evidence for generating balanced thoughts, decatastrophizing in anxiety and a meta-cognitive method named two explanations are discussed. Different ways to use this technique as a homework assignment is also reviewed. Remarkable aspects of generating alternative explanations and realistic/balanced thoughts are also reviewed and exemplified using therapy transcripts. Conclusion: Generating alternative explanations and balanced thoughts are the end point and important part of therapy work on automatic thoughts. When applied properly and rehearsed as homework between sessions, these methods may lead to improvement in many mental disordershttp://www.ejmanager.com/mnstemps/77/77-1366291072.pdf?t=1368776296Cognitive therapydepressionanxiety
spellingShingle Serkan AKKOYUNLU
M. Hakan TÜRKÇAPAR
A Technique: Generating Alternative Thoughts
Bilişsel Davranışçı Psikoterapi ve Araştırmalar Dergisi
Cognitive therapy
depression
anxiety
title A Technique: Generating Alternative Thoughts
title_full A Technique: Generating Alternative Thoughts
title_fullStr A Technique: Generating Alternative Thoughts
title_full_unstemmed A Technique: Generating Alternative Thoughts
title_short A Technique: Generating Alternative Thoughts
title_sort technique generating alternative thoughts
topic Cognitive therapy
depression
anxiety
url http://www.ejmanager.com/mnstemps/77/77-1366291072.pdf?t=1368776296
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