2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43
In my article "The Cognitive Model," I said that the basis of automatic thoughts are deep and intermediate beliefs. In this article, I will introduce you to a technique called "Falling Arrow" … The technique is an important part of the therapeutic process, and is aimed at quickly and effectively identifying intermediate and deep beliefs.
The main questions used in the technique:
- What does this situation mean to you?
- What can this lead to?
- What will follow this?
- What's wrong with …?
- What is the worst that can happen as a result of this?
- If so, what then?
- How does this characterize you?
- What does this say about you?
- What does this situation mean to you?
- What can this lead to?
- What will follow this?
- What's wrong with …?
- What is the worst that can happen as a result of this?
- If so, what then?
- How does this characterize you?
- What does this say about you?
Implementation of technology
The implementation of the technique can be conditionally divided into three stages: collecting automatic thoughts, determining their meaning and identifying intermediate and deepest beliefs.
To begin with, we identify a key automatic thought that is most likely the result of a dysfunctional belief. Then we determine the meaning of this thought for the client, assuming that the thought is correct. We ask questions from the list until we find important beliefs of the client.
Therapist: “After your friend refused to go to the movies with you last night and explained that she was busy at the weekend, you thought, 'She doesn't want to go to the movies with me,' and you felt sad?”
Client: "Yes, the mood immediately soured."
Therapist: “Let's try to figure out why this thought upset you. Imagine that the thought is indeed correct and your girlfriend doesn't really want to go to the movies with you. What would that mean to you?"
Client: "She doesn't want to communicate with me."
Therapist: “And if you imagine that she really does not want to communicate with you. What's bad about it?"
Client: “So I’m boring and uninteresting (Here the client suggested:“If a friend doesn’t want to communicate with me, then I’m boring and uninteresting”(Intermediate persuasion)."
Therapist: "Suppose you are really boring and uninteresting, what can this lead to?"
Client: "Nobody will need me."
Therapist: “And if we assume that you will not be needed by anyone. What does this say about you? »
Client: "I am unattractive" (deep conviction).
Important clarification: Asking the meaning of an automatic thought often helps to identify intermediate beliefs, but if you ask the client, "What does this thought say about you?", you are more likely to find a deep belief.
What difficulties may arise
If, in response to the therapist's questions, the client describes his feelings, for example, "I would be upset" or "That would be terrible" - this can complicate the process. In this case, we first express empathy, then we bring the client back to the intended discussion.
Therapist: “Let's see why this situation makes you sad. Assuming that your friend really doesn't want to go to the movies with you, what does that mean to you?"
Client: "It's horrible".
Therapist: “Of course it can be frustrating. But what's so terrible about that?"
Client: "This is awful because I'm probably boring and uninteresting."
Therapist: “Let's assume that you are boring and uninteresting. Why is it so awful?"
Client: “I don’t know, they may not want to communicate with me.” (Intermediate conviction: “If they don’t want to communicate with me, then I’m boring and uninteresting”).
Therapist: “It’s unpleasant if they don’t want to communicate with you, but what does this say about you as a person?
Completion of the technique
The moment the client suddenly becomes in a bad mood or starts repeating the same words - most likely, you have discovered an important intermediate or deep belief.
After identifying key beliefs, it is important to explain to the client that these beliefs are just ideas that were formed in childhood and do not necessarily reflect reality, even if we believe in them. And in the next sessions, we check how true they are.
And we also form a coping card that will remind him of this.
Conclusion
The falling arrow technique helps you find the true cause of dysfunctional thoughts. Therefore, it is often called Socratic - it establishes connections between automatic thoughts and their common root - deep beliefs, working with which is the key to successful therapy.
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