In this video I explain how to identify core beliefs via the Downward Arrow Technique also known as Laddering. The Downward Arrow Technique is from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and teaches you how to identify core beliefs about yourself, other people and the world. Core beliefs are usually learned in early childhood and reverberate through your life. As a therapist, if you understand the clients core beliefs you gain a better understanding of the case formulation and the symptoms that need intervention. The problem is that core beliefs are very difficult to access.

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CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
0:45 How To Identify Core Beliefs About Self
1:48 How To Identify Core Beliefs About Others
2:41 How To Identify Core Beliefs About The World

CBT BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

☐ The Clinician's Guid to CBT Using Mind Over Mood by Christine A. Padesky. Please click on the link to buy from Amazon: https://amzn.to/409z8ko

☐ Mind Over Mood by Dennis Greenberger and Christine Padesky. Please click on the link to buy from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Hi7lp9

☐ Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Basics and Beyond by Judith Beck. Please click on the link to buy from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RfTN2f

HOW TO IDENTIFY CORE BELIEFS

To identify core beliefs about yourself we first identify a negative automatic thought such as “I don’t think she likes me”. We then ask the question, “What does that mean or say about me?” We continue to ask this question until we arrive at your core belief about the self.

To identify core beliefs about other people we first identify a negative thought such as “I don’t think she likes me”. We then ask the question, “If this is true what does this mean about other people?”. We continue to ask this question until we arrive at a core belief about other people.

And finally we can uncover our core beliefs about the world by identify identifying a negative automatic thought such as “I dont think she likes me”. We then ask the question “If this is true, what does it mean or say about the world and how it works”. We continue to ask this question until we arrive at a core belief about the world.

It's very important core beliefs are addressed but we always start with addressing negative automatic thoughts and underlying rules and assumptions first. Thats because the outer layer of thoughts are more accessible and can be easily tested with interventions such as socratic questioning, thought records and behavioural experiments. Most of the time if we work on automatic thoughts and underlying rules assumptions then core beliefs will automatically change but there are times when core beliefs don’t shift. In such cases you need to identify a new core belief you would like to hold focus on strengthening the new and more helpful core belief, basically seeing out evidence to support and strengthen the new core belief.

ABOUT TERESA LEWIS

Teresa Lewis is the founder and Director of Lewis Psychology and a Senior Accredited psychotherapist with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP Snr. Accred). Qualified in 1995, Teresa has been providing counselling and psychotherapy treatment for nearly 30 years. Teresa holds a masters degree in counselling and psychotherapy and is a qualified EMDR Practitioner having completed training accredited with EMDR Europe. Teresa is also a qualified adult educator and an accredited Mindfulness teacher As a recognised expert in her field Teresa is frequently asked to conduct editorial reviews and endorse counselling and psychotherapy books for international publishing houses.

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