ABSTRACT
Clients often complain of a tension between 'head thinking' and 'gut thinking'. The former refers to a light conviction in a new adaptive core belief while the latter focuses on a deep conviction in the old maladaptive core belief. 'Head-gut' role play is a procedure which encourages the client to strengthen conviction in her new belief and weaken conviction in her old one. This client first attempting to convince herself that old core belief is true by marshalling all the evidence that appears to support it and then, second, challenging this evidence point to develop more balanced and realistic interpretations of the same evidence to buttress new core belief. Kuehlwein states that the client challenge the evidence 'vehemently and firmly', and 'once the therapist satisfied that the client explores second side fully, he checks for a reduction in belief level in the old core belief and in the accompanying distress. If it does not occur, the exercise repeated'.
