Page 77 - JCBP-2-2

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Treating depression using ICP approach

Appendix

(Psychotherapist using the technique of “multiple reflection”) C: Nothing indeed… nothing that I can do in the
C: Even though I have a lot of things to feel proud current situation as well…
about, I just can’t find a way to say a single positive word T: The truth is that you can’t change the event, but you
for myself. can change the way you think about it… Let’s find ways
T: Let’s suppose that your friend has the same potential, to manage your thinking about that specific event and the
competencies, abilities, skills, and opportunities that you other ones that may help you.
have in life and tells you that she “can’t say a single positive ….
word for herself,” what would you say to her?
(Psychotherapist making the client reflect on the lessons
C: Of course, I would put much more emphasis on the learned from the past experiences and shifting the client’s
potential, and I know how to praise someone’s positive attention to adaptive strategies that can be used for present
side. I would say to her like: “This is not the way you should and future challenges. Psychotherapist is using the technique
live your life.” of “Exploring working scenarios”)
T: How would you feel if someone said the same to you? C: Sometimes, when I try to remember events from
C: Much better, I think… Yes, I’m in need of such the past, I just stick to the ones that I lost control… the
words. I really need some motivation. ones that I really couldn’t manage… failed to deal with my
negative emotions, and I blame myself a lot…
….
T: I can see it… It looks like your memories are mainly
(The psychotherapist challenging the client’s negative focused on negative events. Is there any occasion in which
thoughts, inviting her to accept the past events and to change you managed to control your negative emotions?
the negative thinking using the technique of “accept or
change”) C: It’s not only one. There were several occasions when
I managed to control my emotions indeed.
C: I tend to go back and remember everything that
happened repeatedly. I’m just caged by these thoughts… I T: This is good to know. So, there might be some
can’t change… it’s like an unsolved puzzle which is killing occasions that you did not manage to control your
my brain… all day long, I stay thinking about “what if”… reactions, but there are a lot more when you succeed.
this is a never-ending story. Can you share with me at least one which you consider
important?
T: I’m trying to understand how difficult it is to be
in your position and to realize how challenging it is to C: Once, I had this rough dialogue with my father, and
experience these emotions every single day. It must be he used to blame me for his drinking habits. I was able to
hard. You are describing thoughts as uncontrollable, and control my emotions and talk to him honestly. Even though
they are constantly leading you to negative emotions. he used to raise his voice, I remained calm and just listed
Could you think about real ways to deal with past events? the reasons why I see it differently. On other occasions, I
always fail and lose control.
C: Indeed, I don’t know what I can do. I am just
following these thoughts. T: Your ability to control the reaction tells a lot about
your potential. Could you recall what kind of strategies or
T: Following these thoughts means that you are doing mechanisms you used to control your negative emotions
something. and to make an appropriate reaction toward a certain
C: Yes, right… I am just following these thoughts, situation?
nothing else… C: I asked my mother for her opinion, which just
T: However, this is guiding you to negative emotions. Is reinforced the idea that I was not guilty. One of the things
there anything you can do to change the past events? that I remember is that I tried to speak honestly with myself
after that. I managed to tell myself that this was not the
C: No, of course not. There is nothing I can do to change truth, that I was not guilty of his drinking habits. I know
that event. Dad was always like this. He wanted to paint our opinion.

T: As such, please let me know what you can do in this But, at that time, I remained calm, and I said what I always
current situation to change the way you feel about it. wanted to say.

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2024) 6 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.1336