ABSTRACT
This chapter emphasizes the importance of pinpointing key cognitive content for intervention. Specific procedures for identifying and uncovering strategic content are described. In this chapter, we have reviewed in detail how to focus in on the key content. We discussed breaking a situation down to its components, identifying the various thoughts and feelings about the most upsetting part of the situation, identifying the hot thought from among those thoughts, and delving down to find the emotional meaning of the hot thought. We also discussed other important elements such as identifying if-then assumptions, linking back to the conceptualization, watching for cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs, collaboratively defining the cognitive target, and creating a shared universal definition for the target when necessary. Spending time on these tasks can take up valuable session time, but the payoff is that you can have a more strategic intervention. Focusing on the key cognitions allows you to get more done in less time. Also, it is easier to have good Socratic strategies when we pick a good meaty thought to work on. The dilemma is whether to spend a little bit of time evaluating every surface-level distortion you come across or taking the time to focus in on and delve down to the key content, so you can spend more time on the more important content. This chapter advocates the latter strategy. A focusing worksheet is provided to aid in this process. Further tips, tricks, and strategies derived from extensive clinical experience are offered and fully illustrated with several case examples.
