ABSTRACT
When your clients dispute their irrational beliefs, they can help themselves to strengthen their newly developed rational beliefs by acting as if they already believe them. Thus, if your clients are working to overcome their dire need for approval, they can counteract this irrational belief by disputing it cognitively and by speaking up and saying unpopular things in public. However, be aware that your clients can subtly undermine their newly emerging rational beliefs by acting as if they still believed their more entrenched irrational beliefs. Thus, it will be difficult for your clients, in the example quoted above, to achieve real gains in therapy if they cognitively disputed their need for approval, but continued to keep quiet in social situations.
