3005PSY Counselling theory and practice Module 5- Cognitive Distortions PDF

3005PSY Counselling theory and practice Module 5: Cognitive Distortions Biases in Information Processing u Depression: negative view of self, world and future (negative cognitive triad) u Anxiety: overestimation of physical or psychological danger u Pan...

3005PSY Counselling theory and practice Module 5: Cognitive Distortions Biases in Information Processing u Depression: negative view of self, world and future (negative cognitive triad) u Anxiety: overestimation of physical or psychological danger u Panic disorder: catastrophic interpretation of physiological experiences u Paranoia: attribution of bias to others u Suicidal ideation: hopelessness regarding future and deficiencies in problem solving Cognitive Distortions u All-or-nothing Thinking: dichotomous, black-or-white thinking; e.g., “If I don’t get a HD, I have failed” u Selective Abstraction: selectively choosing facts to support negative thinking; e.g., athlete focuses on 1 loss in otherwise successful career, which reinforces sense of incompetence u Mind-reading: we know what others think of us; e.g., “I know she thinks I’m an idiot” u Negative prediction: negative prediction of future in the absence of supporting evidence; e.g., “I just know that if I go, I’ll have a bad time” u Catastrophising: exaggerate the consequences of a future event into something fearful: “If I don’t get a HD, I’ll die” Cognitive Distortions u Overgeneralisation: making a rule based on a few negative events: “I forgot my keys again...I can never remember anything” u Labelling and mislabelling: negative view of self created by labelling based on a few mistakes: rather then “I felt awkward talking to Sarah”, “I am a complete loser” (overgeneralisation at the identity level) u Magnification/minimisation: magnify imperfections, minimise good points; “my jeans are a little tight. I am so fat and disgusting” (mag); “I did really well on that assignment. Total fluke”(min) u Personalisation: taking an event unrelated to oneself and making it meaningful; “Another red light. Why does nothing ever go right for me?” Components of Cognitive Therapy u Cognitive Distortions Components of Cognitive Therapy u Automatic Thoughts u Quick, evaluative thoughts u The outcome of cognitive distortions u Not the result of reasoned deliberation u May be outside full conscious awareness u Tend to uncritically accept them as true u Subsequently affect emotion & behaviour u Example: u AT “People won’t like me” u Emotion: Anxiety u Behaviour: Avoidance (stay home) Multiple Cognitive Distortions I am going to have a panic attack… Catastrophising Jumping to Conclusions/ …and all eyes are upon me. Negative Prediction They will think I am crazy. Mind Reading People on the forecourt are noticing I am a Mind Reading wreck. I am a wreck. Labelling I am going to have a panic attack. Catastrophising Westbrook et al. (2011, pp.174) Multiple Cognitive Distortions I am going to have a panic attack… Catastrophising …and all eyes are upon me. Jumping to Conclusions They will think I am crazy. Mind Reading People on the forecourt are noticing I am a Mind Reading wreck. I am a wreck. Labelling I am going to have a panic attack. Catastrophising Westbrook et al. (2011, pp.174)