Discuss the main disputation strategies used in REBT, including logical, empirical, and pragmatic disputation. How do these strategies contribute to cognitive restructuring Flashcards
(6 cards)
introduction (what is disputation)
Disputation is described as a key intervention technique in REBT.
Its primary purpose is to challenge the appropriateness of a client’s irrational beliefs and to offer an alternative, rational belief in its place.
The main goal of this process is to replace iB’s (eg, they hate me), linked to unhealthy consequences (anger), with rational beliefs which are linked to healthy consequences.
Disputation is a central part of the cognitive restructuring phase in REBT’s route to therapeutic change.
The aim of cognitive restructuring is to change the clients belief systems, which changes their emotional responses and motivates engagement in therapy.
With the clients consent, disputation directly addresses the iB’s identified during the assessment phase.
socratic and Didactic methods of disputation:
socratic disputation involves using a series of semi-opened questions designed to guide the client towards self-discovery.
The therapist helps the client to identify a more appropriate rational belief themselves through this questioning process.
Examples- ‘might you be overgeneralising here? is that logical? Would you accept it if a friend had this idea?
Didactic methods involves the therapist giving clear messages or mini-lectures regarding the 4 types of irrational thinking.
Example: analogies such as the fruit basket analogy for discussing human worth/ diagrams to illustrate concepts.
Empirical/ inelegant disputation
This style of disputation focuses on questioning the logic or validity of the premise or inference the client has and seeking to test it against reality.
When a client makes a statement like- “i gave an awful presentation, therefore i am a worthless person.’ Inelegant disputation would challenge the initial statement-
is that true? lets test it out…
It directly asks for evidence or proof.
examples of questions: ‘would your world be destroyed if this were the case? whats the proof? in what way would this be awful?
Elegant Disputation (pragmatic)
In this approach, the therapist accepts the inference made by the client, but disputes the irrational conclusions or beliefs the client holds based on that inference.
this approach questions the overall utility or philosophical basis of the belief itself.
Example, if the client says ‘I gave an awful presentation, therefore I am a worthless person’, elegant disputation would respond:
‘Lets assume it was awful, does that one think make everything about you worthless?
Other questions would exemplify its pragmatic focus:
‘Even if that is true? is it worth it?’
How do these strategies contribute to cognitive restrucuring?
These disputation strategies are the core tools used within cognitive restructuring to dismantle irrational beliefs.
Engaging in these strategies help the client to:
Identify the faulty logic: socratic disputation helps the client to see the inconsistencies or leaps in their thinking.
Test beliefs against reality: Inelegant disputation encourages the client to gather evidence and challenge the factual accuracy of their premise or inferences.
Evaluate the usefulness of beliefs: Elegant disputation prompts the client to consider the consequences of holding irrational and beliefs whether these beliefs help of hinder them in achieving their goals.
Understand the core irrational thinking: Didactic methods provide a framework for understanding the 4 types of iBS and the core messages use to dispute them (eg, there are no SHOULDs in the universe!)
Critical summary
Through this rigorous process of examining and challenging irrational beliefs from multiple angles, the client learns to weaken their conviction in these rigid, absolutistic thought patterns and replace them with more flexible and rational beliefs.
This change in belief system (cognitive restructuring) is seen as essential for achievnig a change from maladaptive emotions and unhelpful behaviour to adaptive and helpful actions.
The internalisation of these rational beliefs is further strengthened through practice using cognitive, emotional and behavioural methods.
