Within my blog, I’ve addressed my lifelong difficulty with comprehension in regard to the field of mathematics. Once I left elementary school, math was so challenging that I couldn’t perform well without academically dishonest assistance.
By the time I was in high school, matters were far worse than I’d expected. Educators required me to show my work on assigned tasks. As an example, the answer key at the end of a textbook contained solutions to homework problems.
Therefore, I simply wrote in answers to homework assignments. However, teachers would require students who performed as I did to show our work. For instance, one instructor explained, “Show your work so that I know you understand the lesson.”
The educator and I both knew that I hadn’t comprehended my assignments. At that point in my life, I disturbed myself with irrational beliefs. In particular, I used what in rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) is known as negative global ratings or global evaluations.
These unproductive assumptions are used toward oneself, others, and life in general. As an example, I unhelpfully believed, “I’m completely stupid, the teacher is worthless, and life is unfair!”
Use of negative global ratings isn’t useful, because these beliefs exclude balanced counterpoints to unfavorable claims. For instance, although I wasn’t skilled in mathematics, I tended to perform well in regard to artistic endeavors. Therefore, I wasn’t completely stupid.
Likewise, though an educator may’ve been ineffective at teaching math in a way that I could understand, many other students apparently comprehended the lessons. Thus, a teacher maintained worth despite how I performed within the classroom.
Similarly, basing the partiality or impartiality of life solely on my performance in a math class was unwise. Granting that I wasn’t particularly competent with the performance of mathematic assignments, I was still given a fair opportunity to learn the material along with my peers.
What I’ve briefly demonstrated in reference to global evaluations is known as disputation. When using the ABC model in REBT, unfavorable assumptions are challenged through this process.
Unlike my performance in math, I’ve shown my work so that you may understand why I’ve since changed my mind about myself, former educators, and life. Now that I use psychoeducation with clients when practicing REBT, I’ve become a teacher of sorts.
My have times have changed! I find myself in the position whereby I say to clients, “Show your work; why did you change your mind?” After all, many of the people with whom I work report understanding of and belief in REBT, though they often lack dedicated practice of the modality.
Similar to my actions when in high school, a client may cheat by guessing about why one thinks it is that one’s mind was changed. “I was using a global evaluation?” an individual may question. “Are you asking me or telling me?” I’ll respond.
“It’s important to show your work so that I know you understand the lesson,” I’ll add while being reminded of my former math instructor. Merely guessing the correct answer while not knowing why one’s mind was changed isn’t enough to promote continued use of REBT.
Therefore, I encourage people to show their work. Demonstrate why your mind was changed so that similar results may be produced in the future when additional problems inevitably arise.
If you’d like to know more about math, I can’t help you. However, if you’d like to know more about REBT, I’m here to assist.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Cookie_studio. (n.d.). Colleagues making business plan at meeting [Image]. Freepik. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/colleagues-making-business-plan-meeting_7850976.htm#from_view=detail_alsolike
Hollings, D. (2024, October 18). ABC model. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/abc-model
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use
Hollings, D. (2024, April 2). Four major irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/four-major-irrational-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better
Hollings, D. (2023, September 13). Global evaluations. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/global-evaluations
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2024, April 22). On disputing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-disputing
Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
Hollings, D. (2024, April 12). P.O.S. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/p-o-s
Hollings, D. (2023, March 20). Practice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/practice
Hollings, D. (2024, January 1). Psychoeducation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychoeducation
Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt
Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance
Hollings, D. (2024, January 16). Understanding, belief, and practice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/understanding-belief-and-practice
Komentáre