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CBT

tom

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So... recently I've been signed up for CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and I was wondering if anyone had any experience of it/could tell me what to expect?
 

Artifice Orisit

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It's like electro-shock-therapy in principal, except they just beat you straight,
it's awesome.
 

loveofreason

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Snowqueen mentioned it in her thread about therapies for INTPs... it's around here... somewhere...
 

tom

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ah yes I remember that thread now! I'll actually doing a variation of CBT with a completely fucking retarded name "beating the blues." The best part? Its all done over the computer! Making it nice and easy to stop if i so choose :phear:

Only thing Im wondering is: what will happen if I refuse to do it? ahhh well, as long as i get internet access being sectioned shouldn't be too bad :rolleyes:
 

Da Blob

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So... recently I've been signed up for CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and I was wondering if anyone had any experience of it/could tell me what to expect?

CBT -yuch - Bleh...

As a counselor I have been forced to use CBT with some clients due to government financing. It sucks and it rarely works. However, the proponents of CBT, simply placed the word cognitive in front of Behavior, and 're-packaged' an out-dated therapy as something new and wonderful. The powers - that -Be support CBT for reasons that have nothing to do with its effectiveness as a therapy.

That being said, it can work for you - if you believe it can work. However, witch doctors and voodoo can also work for you if you believe they can... Ultimately, most psychological 'healings' are a matter of faith. You have to have enough faith in your Self, than you can overcome obstacles and barriers with a little assistance and you have to have a belief that the path you have chosen will lead towards the desired goal. If you have those two things, then the odds are in your favor for some degree of 'recovery' or improvement...
:storks:
 

snowqueen

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CBT can be useful if you approach it as a technology - I think INTPs can use it quite well if they want to in a self-help capacity because it is pretty logical and straightforward. For example, it is interesting to look at the list of thought distortions and it might point out to you some of your blind spots - for example, I realised that I had a tendency to catastrophise and to get caught up in 'should' statements. So I went through the solutions offered and it worked really well. I also cured myself of worrying through realising it was a form of magical thinking. The book cited at the bottom of that link - Feeling Good by David Burns - is one of the originals and probably still the best. So tom, I think you could get something out of the computer-based system - maybe not a total solution, but some useful ways of managing your thoughts so they don't sabotage you.

However, I agree with da Blob - as a 'therapy' provided by counsellors it tends not to be so effective and I think that is less to do with the actual CBT principles, but more to do with the systemic problems inherent in medical model approaches - by that I mean the inevitable power imbalance in the therapist-client relationship.
 

tom

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thanks for the link snowqueen, I don't see those things in myself though...
Im somewhat curious as to the merit of any kind of psychological therapy (a friend had an incredibly bad experience which drove her deeper into depression...) The computer part of it reassures me somewhat as there is little to no pressure from a therapist to continue treatment should I decide against it.
 

Da Blob

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I 'ought' to be ashamed of my Self (hmm, I wonder why I am not ...lol)
Snowqueen offered both criticism and help, whereas i just offered criticism.

The precursor for one type of CBT can be found in Colonel John Boyd's O.O.D.A. loop (See WiKI). The sequence of Observation, Orientation, Decision and then Action is a simple means of quick analysis, that although, not applicable for everything is quite useful. It was created as a method to keep fighter pilots alive during combat during the Korean War. It worked for that and subsequently has been applied as a problem solving method across a wide range of scenarios. It's fast, effective, does not call for understanding of theory and can produce a lot of positive outcomes without a great deal of soul-searching or disclosure of self to others. In environments where Trust between client and counselor is not going to happen, I found it to be the best of my 'bag of tricks'...

Professional counselors are very eclectic, most have a bag of tricks garnered from various therapies and disciplines, and not just one techniques such as CBT. (for example, art therapy is amazingly effective for some clients). To be redundant, the reason is this: a therapist must believe in a therapy first, before his or her clients can be led to believe that the therapy will work for them. Solutions to most psychological dilemma, can not be imposed on a client. The solution has to be worked out by the client, by his or her Self, using the input and feedback from the counselor.

Sad to say, but the current state of the industry is simply that of delivering to clients an effective placebo, a sugar pill - composed of words and suggestions, that can lead to healing if the client believes it can and begins to think and act in a positive manner after exposure to the placebo...
 

snowqueen

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thanks for the link snowqueen, I don't see those things in myself though...
Im somewhat curious as to the merit of any kind of psychological therapy (a friend had an incredibly bad experience which drove her deeper into depression...) The computer part of it reassures me somewhat as there is little to no pressure from a therapist to continue treatment should I decide against it.

ok well that's a useful insight in itself.

Anyway the thread which lor referred to is here if you are interested: http://www.intpforum.com/showthread.php?t=2801

and it might give insight into why your friend had a bad experience.
 
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tom

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:) You both seem to know a lot about this kind of stuff. Have you worked in the field?
 

snowqueen

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yep - I worked in mental health service in the UK for many years and now I teach at a university. I'm an occupational therapist and solution focused therapist.
 

tom

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enjoyable?
 

tom

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Good!:D

waiting for the email and the activation thingamabob atm and doing some reading round the subject (gotta love wikipedia)
 

tom

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We are sending you this email because we have received a referral for you from -NAME REMOVED- for ‘Beating the Blues’, the computer based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (cCBT) programme. As such, we are just getting in touch to ensure you have been fully informed about the programme and what it involves.

What is CCBT and who is it for?
CCBT is a clinically proven, drug free treatment for people suffering with depression and low mood, together with anxiety, phobias and panic. The intervention can either be used on its own, or with other forms of therapy and uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques. CBT is an intervention that helps people to look at their thoughts and the impact that they have on the way they feel and what they do.

What’s involved?
The course takes the form of eight, 50 minute sessions. You will need to try and complete one session per week.

During the sessions, you will be able to work through modules on:

· Identifying negative thoughts
· Challenging negative thoughts
· Recognising ways in which we distract ourselves from our problems
· Solving practical problems
· Sleep and time management

At the end of each session there will be print outs detailing the information that you covered. You will be expected to work on things covered in the session over the week, so that you can progress on in the following session.

What happens if I’ve never really used a computer before?
No previous computer experience is needed. You will also be able to access some assistance from First Steps, via the phone-line, should you have any difficulties understanding or applying the techniques described.

Do I need to go somewhere to do the programme?
The programme is online, so you can work through the session from your home or work if you have access to the internet. If you do not have broadband internet access the service is also being provided within Surrey libraries. You will need to discuss with a First Steps Advisor which library you would like to attend to do your sessions if you decide to take this option.

Where can I find out more?
If you visit www.beatingtheblues.co.uk you will be able to view a short introductory video which may help you to decide if the programme is suitable for you.

What happens now?
You have several options available to you now.
If you decide you would like to go ahead with the programme, please reply to this email and we will log you on and email you your activation code with a link to the Beating the Blues website
If you are unsure, have further questions or would like to know what alternatives may be available to you (either in conjunction with the programme or as an alternative), please contact us either by return email or by phone and we will be happy to discuss your choices.

Alternative options that may be available to you include:
One-to-One self help clinics – where you will have an opportunity to work through your problems by talking to a First Steps Advisor, using self help techniques (this can be over the phone or face-to-face)
Evening educational workshops (“Emotion Gyms”) – sessions include ‘anger and communication’, ‘stress and anxiety’ and ‘low mood’
Leisure referral scheme
Art referral scheme
Gain information on other local and national services
Self-Help materials by post and email
Information on recommended self help books
 
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