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Cognitive Restructuring (CR)

Posted Tuesday, 22 August 2023

Date issued: June 2023

Review date: June 2025

Ref: C-531/EL/Clinical Psychology/Cognitive Restructuring (CR)

All CWP interventions are based on CBT. They usually last between 6-8 sessions and progress continues after the end of intervention, especially when new ideas and skills are practised at home
The sessions can be with your child and/or you, face to face or via video and/or telephone call
Attending regular sessions is important for change

CR is a suitable evidence-based intervention for young people who are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of low mood, panic, social anxiety, health anxiety or phobia
It involves learning about how we can be stuck in a cycle of “negative thinking” and how these negative thoughts impact on our mood and stop us from doing things that we want to do

Learning about “detective thinking” which involves finding evidence about whether the negative thoughts are true or not
Exploring unhelpful “thinking traps”; common ways that people get stuck in the way they think about things
Trying out new ways to challenge negative thoughts in order to find more positive, balanced thoughts
The young person may also learn some breathing/ coping techniques to practise at home

As with all our interventions, it is really important that the child or young person practices the techniques at home. As a parent or care giver, it would be great if you helped facilitate these tasks
Facilitate time and space to complete tasks e.g., writing thought diaries
Provide gentle (but not pressured) reminders of the tasks and strategies that were agreed in session e.g., identifying a “thinking trap” or completing a “detective thinking” sheet
Model how to challenge a thought. You could share one of your own negative thoughts and how you have restructured it to have a more balanced thought, or share your “thinking traps” and “detective thinking”
Although we understand it can be very tempting, it is really important not to ‘rush’. Please try to stick to the agreed goals made in the session and use the resources shared, so activities are consistent and enable the young person to practice and remember the new strategies they have leant
Celebrate your young person’s attempts and successes, no matter how big or small!
Remember it is a journey for the young person and with you beside them, they can achieve great things!

If you have any questions regarding this intervention or the CWP sessions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with your Wellbeing Practitioner!