Cognitive restructuring

Cognitive restructuring describes a change / restructuring of mental / cognitive concepts of life of the people and is a central element of cognitive behavioral therapy.

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive restructuring is carried out by various methods, and will be described in cognitive / intellectual -related, emotional / affective and behavioral / behavioral methods and therapeutic approaches, such as Rational - Emotive Therapy by Albert Ellis, Cognitive Therapy by Aaron T. Beck or " Selbstverbalisierungstechnik " by Donald Meichenbaum.

Steps

Beate Wilken divided the process of cognitive restructuring in five steps:

The goal is that the patient learns in the course of therapy, use these strategies independently and in the long term without the help of the therapist to use (see self-management therapy).

Example

A little useful life concept, for example, the dysfunctional thought "You must not cry ." A questioning this thought makes it clear that sadness is to be suppressed, not to burden from false shame, or to others. This is based on the irrational notion that it would be possible to feel no feelings, or that people should not be sad. A healthier, useful life concept would be the idea of ​​"You can cry as much as you want".