ABSTRACT
This chapter examines about Negative Automatic Thoughts (NATs) in Shorthand. This means that NATs can 'composed of just a few essential words phrased in telegraphic style: "lonely getting sick can't stand it cancer no good". One word or a short phrase functions as a label for a group of painful memories, fears, or self-reproaches'. Just as when they are phrased as questions, NATs phrased in a telegraphic style will be difficult to examine and respond to. In the following exchange, the therapist clarifies the client's shorthand replies. It is important that the therapist does not assume she knows the meaning embedded in the client's telegraphic thoughts otherwise she will be replicating his telegraphic style with the upshot that she and her client might be following different agendas. In order to avoid this outcome, the therapist needs to enquire about the meaning of the client's telegraphically expressed thoughts.
