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You’ve Got to Believe: Core Beliefs that Underlie Effective Psychotherapy

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Abstract

A mixture of core beliefs may lay the foundation for effective psychotherapy. Sincere trust in these beliefs may help to promote therapeutic change. The therapist must have faith in the power of words to promote change. Clients usually change in a gradual manner, and the initial plan for therapy can be simplified by focusing on strategies for changing actions and attitudes. Also, therapy can help to improve various aspects of clients’ intimate relationships. However, before attempting to promote therapeutic change, it is important for the therapist to begin by understanding the client’s life situation, current distress, and natural tendencies. Clients benefit from emotional tolerance of stressors by recognizing that many negative life events turn out better than initially expected. A tendency to dwell on past events can perpetuate problems, while it can be more helpful to accept and grow from negative events. Therapists are encouraged to view a client’s emotions as natural reactions, not deviant dysfunctions that need to be blocked or suppressed through medications. In a similar manner, most labels, including many psychiatric diagnoses, pose a danger through societal discrimination and self-stigma. When therapists adopt these core beliefs, they can more effectively help clients move forward, making adaptive psychological changes.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106-7123, USA

    James C. Overholser, Abby Braden & Lauren Fisher

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  1. James C. Overholser
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Overholser, J.C., Braden, A. & Fisher, L. You’ve Got to Believe: Core Beliefs that Underlie Effective Psychotherapy. J Contemp Psychother 40, 185–194 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-010-9151-3

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