Cognitive Therapy Basics

Transformational Processing is a general term for all types of Clearing Work or Power Therapy’s. Emotional Clearing is a generic term for one type of Transformational Processing. There are many ways you can engage in clearing work, but they all have similarities. You may have heard of Emotional Freedom Technique – a form of meridian therapy which utilises meridian points to facilitate an energetic / emotional release.

There are many names and different modalities. Each of them has its own emphasis and value. Some of them work with trauma directly through feelings and some are more cognitive in their approach and may focus in on changing beliefs. Other modalities use regression techniques to bring to light subconscious programming, beliefs or traumatic incidents. All of them work well together in an applied program to clear the mind, heart and body of the effects of mental, emotional and physical trauma or stress that can create blocks to wholeness and inner peace.

Some aspects that make up this clearing work or TP can be found in many types of modern therapy such as body centered therapy, self psychology, trauma therapy, regression therapy, meditation, cognitive therapy, energy psychology, object relations, meridian therapy and many others.

If I had to describe it in one sentence, I would call it “Power Therapy – the application of awareness, differentiation and release for the dissolution of energetic blocks, negative patterning or programming”. One practitioner I know likens it to meditation with two people. When the power of awareness from two people are placed on one “subject” (problem) the result is not just a doubling of awareness, but a multiplication that can give ten times the results of a single meditation or contemplation. That’s why they are being called “Power Therapies”.

What are the Results?

When done correctly, clearing work activates your natural inner healing process. Transformation is a natural process. Resistance is what delays or slows down our natural evolutionary development. Clearing Work or Transformational Processing generally brings the practitioner to a place where they end resistance. What we are resisting is unresolved unconscious material. As Carl Jung said: “Enlightenment is… bringing darkness to the light”.

The results of continued clearing work are beyond what most people are willing to think or believe. Suffice it to say that you will be delighted by the exploration and discovery of the workings of your own mind and emotions, as well as your motivations and beliefs. Most people who experience a deep release / clearing are truly amazed at the power of real transformation that they find within themselves. They quickly learn the natural ability of processing not only unresolved issues from the past, but whatever they encounter in everyday life.

What Transformational Processing is NOT

It is not “religious”, although most religions have as their mystical foundations some practices that at least engender temporary releases to induce “spiritual” states. Much of the clearing technology we have today has evolved out of the mystical roots of the major religions of the world. It is not new age, airy fairy, or syrupy platitudes that deny the negative or dark side of reality. In fact the “dark side” is where a lot of your “problems” are hiding. You must be willing to draw no lines and hide from nothing that exists in order to get the most out of clearing work.

Clearing Work is not for people who have borderline disorder or psychotic episodes. In order to do this type of deep transformative work, you must have a fairly stable sense of self. Do not attempt this work without a trained facilitator if you have any history of suicidal, borderline or psychotic symptoms. There are therapists that specialize in working with people who have these type of “deeply wounded” issues.

Transformational Processing offers nothing less than the promise of wholeness. It is not a simple or easy thing to apply the “Power Therapy’s” to your life. It takes energy and steadfast motivation in the face of all kinds of difficulties that your unconscious will bring up. But, the rewards are – priceless!

Cognitive behavioral therapy has a lot of research behind it. Because of this very large call for cognitive behavioral therapists to work from government administered health services. This article will briefly cover the cognitive behavioral therapy model so the reader can apply it to any life situation of their choosing.

It may be useful to have a pen and paper to hand. At the top of the piece of paper you can draw a box. You can label the box life situation problem or challenge.

In the cognitive behavioral therapy model they are basically four modalities which need to be explored in order to find solutions. In this way it is a holistic therapy because it attempts looks at the person as a whole being rather than as having a problem that needs to be fixed.

Drawing a line down from the challenge box, you can draw the thinking box. Thinking box refers to what you are thinking  your thoughts surrounding the situation you are working on. If it is a habit for example that you want to change you look at what you are thinking during acting out on that habit and around it. You may find that beliefs come up here.

Thinking is aspect one in cognitive behavioural therapy. Some personal development speakers say that change your thinking and you change your life.The Buddha said all that we are arises from our thoughts. The better doctors today recognise that 80% of illness is psychosomatic and arises in the mind as our thoughts. Our thoughts are intimately linked with the other parts of the model.

Behaviors. Behavior is the doing aspect of the model. What do you do What are your actions What specific behavior are you examining Our thoughts effect our behavior and our behavior can effect our thoughts so an interlinking line can be drawn connecting the two. Behavior is how you act as either a result of your thoughts,feelings and physiology or as a way to influence those other parts of the model.

The third box on the cognitive behavioural therapy model is the emotions feelings box. How you feel again is connected to your thoughts  if you are having thoughts that are negative, eg I canot do it  the belief  or why me Lord or why am I so useless you are more likely to feel bad. Whereas if you are feeling terrific your thoughts correspond normally. Apathy grief anger pride courage lust peace love harmony serenity all can be classified as feelings/emotion states and can be commented on in this box.

Emotions are also connected to behaviors. Think about if you do some physical exercise. Maybe you will feel annoyed at not being fit enough. Or maybe you will feel confident about how fit you are. More than likely if you do extend yourself a little, you will feel relaxed and happy after your body releases some endorphins. This is borderline belonging in the next category though.

Physiology. Physiology refers to the state of the body. The biochemistry at the smaller level and physical sensation and the macrouniverse of the body at larger levels. We have already mentioned endorphins. Aches and pains may be manifest if we have an injury or chronic illness for example. Can you imagine how your physiology effects your thoughts and feelings  and your behaviors. Of course they are all interrelated.

If a person has broken a bone in their body, their behavior will be different, correct They will likely not be so able for a while. Without support, they might feel low about it (feelings) perhaps because they are having thoughts like this is never going to get better. At the same time their physiology will adapt to the lowered exercise of those muscles  and may require physiotherapy to help their physiology. Can you think of more ways the four aspects of the model might be effected.

The magic of CBT is that therapists recognise that by changing any of the four areas after examining what is actually going on the outcome of the situation can be changed rapidly. The most common area to focus on changing is the behavior. It is easier for us to change what we do. However, it is possible to change our thoughts, too  to develop positive self talk for example, think more positively, to change our diet physiology and behavior, and to focus on things that make us feel good by visualization for example.

With the above description, it is hoped you can draw up a CBT chart and apply CBT to something that you want to change in your own life. This is not about theorizing although the model is a theory of human behavior, it is widely accepted now and you can draw parallels to other forms of newer and more powerful forms of therapeutic technique, such as NLP, Sedona Method etc. So apply this information, donot just let it go to your head.

The idea in this authors understanding is to move away from the quick-fix medical solution to ills and to focus more on a holistic approach to healing which incorpates empowering the person to be responsible and change the causes rather than treating effects with effects drugs and disempowering through taking away responsibility eg through traditional psychiatry although such forms of therapeutic process do have their place.