How to Coach Yourself and Others Empowering Coaching And Crisis Interventions | Page 91

This book is in B&W, not color - Print page in Grayscale for Correct view! Recognizing and Modifying Thinking and Core Beliefs Frequently, clients have difficulty breaking out of established patterns because of the way they think about issues or problems (De Bono, 1985). In addition, dysfunctional thinking patterns that affect reactions are frequently outside a client’s awareness. Success Tip If one’s thinking changes, behaviour and emotions also change. If one’s behaviour changes, thinking and emotions also change. If one’s emotions changes, thinking and behaviour also change. Understanding how one thinks is crucial to the change process because thoughts precede and influence feelings and behaviours. Momentary thoughts are heavily influenced by core beliefs or schema, so it is important to recognize that how one thinks is not necessarily driven by fact. Schema or core beliefs are defined as the “basic beliefs individuals use to organize their view of the self, the world, and the future” (Sperry, 2006, p. 22). Maladaptive beliefs can lead to distress, inaction, low self-esteem, depression, and reluctance to engage in healthy risk-taking such as initiating social relationships. Cognitive behavioural counselling helps clients to recognize automatic thoughts, identify “errors in thinking,” and explore how thoughts hinder them from reaching goals. Once clients become aware that an automatic thought is about to happen, they can practise replacing that thought with an alternative. This interrupts the repetitive cycle of problematic behaviour. On a broader level, clients learn to understand and modify schemas that drive dysfunctional behaviour and painful emotions. Example: A new social setting triggers Troy’s automatic thoughts: “I don’t belong. I won’t fit in.” These thoughts originate from his core belief, “I am unlovable.” His automatic thoughts and his core beliefs create anxiety and fear. His strategy is to use drugs to curb his anxiety, which in turn lead to the new belief that he won’t be able to cope unless he uses drugs. Maladaptive (unhealthy) and Adaptive (healthy) beliefs • I am unlovable. • I am a person worthy of love and respect. • To seek help is a sign of weakness. • I can ask for and offer assistance. • Without a relationship partner, I am nothing • I am responsible for my own happiness • I will fail. I am helpless. • I will do my best, savour my success, and learn from my mistakes. • I have to be loved by everyone. • I accept that not everyone will love me. • I must be perfect in everything that I do • I accept my limitations; they do not diminish me. • I must be seen by others as the best. • I am special; I can take advantage of others • My rights as well as the rights of other people need to be respected. Common Thinking Errors Since major errors in thinking may be outside one’s awareness and can easily lead to faulty interpretations and maladaptive behaviour, it is important to understand the major types of thinking errors, such as distortion, selective attention, magnification/minimization, perfectionism, and self-defeating thought. For [email protected] Property of Bookemon, do NOT distribute 91