ABSTRACT

A theme running through the work described in this book is the importance of reducing the young person’s worries, not only by helping them to discover that the things they fear will not happen, but also, at the same time, by providing them with an alternative, less threatening explanation of their difficulties. The girl who was afraid of contamination comes to see that it is the fear and not the contamination which is her problem, and goes on to overcome that fear by confronting rather than escaping contamination. The boy who feared that harm would come to his mother because of the thoughts he had is helped to see that he is not causing harm but fears it, and that fear can be dealt with without seeking to neutralise frightening thoughts. CBT emphasises the way in which ‘loosening up’ beliefs makes it easier to change behaviour, and that changes in behaviour further loosen up the beliefs. It is also clear that one of the belief changes that is crucial relates to ‘normalisation’; helping the young person see how their ideas about the problem showing that they are weird, mad or bad are incorrect and indeed almost the opposite – that they are caring and sensitive individuals with much to offer. Another key component of effective treatment is an implication of the previous points; that it is important for the young person not only to disengage from their worries, but to engage more fully in positive aspects of their life, including renewing their ambitions, hopes and dreams.