Brilliant Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, 2nd Edition

Reworking formative memories

All the standard CBT approaches are relevant to dealing with core beliefs linked to self-esteem, but in addition it may be helpful to imagine setting up some kind of dialogue between yourself when you were younger and the adult you have now become.

Retrospectively changing the meaning of key past experiences is not always easy – but it is possible. You are usually dealing with the interpretations and conclusions reached by a child with far less life experience and insight than you have as an adult, so it can be helpful to think not only about how the original conclusions were drawn but whether they were valid or balanced.

Pick out some of the key experiences that moulded the child’s beliefs. Having put yourself into ...