AUTOMATIC THOUGHTS – IDENTIFYING THEM
How to identify automatic thoughts:
- What is/was/will be going through your mind?
- What are you/were you/will you be thinking?
You have to differentiate automatic thoughts from interpretations (The interpretation:
‘I couldn’t get myself to reading’ may be the thought ‘I can’t do it’
You have to specify automatic thoughts embedded in discourse (‘I guess I was
worried about what she would say to me’ should be: ‘She’s going to criticize me’
You have to change the form of telegraphic or question thoughts by asking what the
thought meant. ‘Oh no’ could be: ‘Leaving my cellphone at home was stupid’
TECHNIQUES WHEN CLIENTS HAVE DIFFICULTY FINDING THEIR AUTOMATIC
THOUGHT
Heighten the clients response
What will you think will be going through your mind?
- I’m not sure
How do you think you’ll be feeling?
- Anxious
Where will you feel it?
- In my stomach
So you’re at home, feeling anxious, you feel it in your stomach. What’s going through
your mind?
Visualizing the situation
Let the client describe the situation in detail and see it in their mind’s eye.
So you were at home and feeling sad. Can you describe the scene for me? Can you
see the scene as if it’s happening right now?
- (Describing)
So (repeats description of the scene), and you’re thinking..?
Re-creating an interpersonal situation through role-play
Can we try a role play? I’ll be your neighbor, and you be you.
- Okay
Okay, you start. What do you say first?
- Uh, can I ask you a question?
Sure.
- I really need a job. Do you think you could ask your boss if he needs
someone?
I’m not sure . . . Have you looked down at the mall? One of the stores might be
hiring.
- I’m not sure I want to work retail.
I wish I could help you, but . . . Okay, out of role play. Were you
aware of what was going through your mind?
- Yeah, I was thinking he doesn’t want to help me.
, Inquiring about images
‘Let me ask you this: When you thought that you might see your ex-wife at your son’s
birthday party, did you have a picture in your mind of what she might look like?’
Suggesting an opposite thought
- I don’t know what will go through my mind as I get ready for the job interview
‘I don’t imagine you’ll be thinking how great it will probably go?’
- No, I’ll probably be thinking that I’m going to mess it up.
Eliciting the meaning of the situation
What did it mean that you didn’t get the job?
- That I’m not good enough
How to identify automatic thoughts:
- What is/was/will be going through your mind?
- What are you/were you/will you be thinking?
You have to differentiate automatic thoughts from interpretations (The interpretation:
‘I couldn’t get myself to reading’ may be the thought ‘I can’t do it’
You have to specify automatic thoughts embedded in discourse (‘I guess I was
worried about what she would say to me’ should be: ‘She’s going to criticize me’
You have to change the form of telegraphic or question thoughts by asking what the
thought meant. ‘Oh no’ could be: ‘Leaving my cellphone at home was stupid’
TECHNIQUES WHEN CLIENTS HAVE DIFFICULTY FINDING THEIR AUTOMATIC
THOUGHT
Heighten the clients response
What will you think will be going through your mind?
- I’m not sure
How do you think you’ll be feeling?
- Anxious
Where will you feel it?
- In my stomach
So you’re at home, feeling anxious, you feel it in your stomach. What’s going through
your mind?
Visualizing the situation
Let the client describe the situation in detail and see it in their mind’s eye.
So you were at home and feeling sad. Can you describe the scene for me? Can you
see the scene as if it’s happening right now?
- (Describing)
So (repeats description of the scene), and you’re thinking..?
Re-creating an interpersonal situation through role-play
Can we try a role play? I’ll be your neighbor, and you be you.
- Okay
Okay, you start. What do you say first?
- Uh, can I ask you a question?
Sure.
- I really need a job. Do you think you could ask your boss if he needs
someone?
I’m not sure . . . Have you looked down at the mall? One of the stores might be
hiring.
- I’m not sure I want to work retail.
I wish I could help you, but . . . Okay, out of role play. Were you
aware of what was going through your mind?
- Yeah, I was thinking he doesn’t want to help me.
, Inquiring about images
‘Let me ask you this: When you thought that you might see your ex-wife at your son’s
birthday party, did you have a picture in your mind of what she might look like?’
Suggesting an opposite thought
- I don’t know what will go through my mind as I get ready for the job interview
‘I don’t imagine you’ll be thinking how great it will probably go?’
- No, I’ll probably be thinking that I’m going to mess it up.
Eliciting the meaning of the situation
What did it mean that you didn’t get the job?
- That I’m not good enough
