23 Feb How to Engage a Child Using Cognitive Restructuring (CR) in Your Therapy Sessions
Cognitive restructuring (CR) is a technique in CBT in which the therapist helps the client identify negative thoughts that adversely impact their emotional well-being.
Understanding Cognitive Restructuring
Cognitive restructuring (CR) involves identifying, challenging, and ultimately replacing these negative thoughts with more balanced and realistic ones.
Adapting cognitive restructuring for children requires understanding their developmental stage, cognitive capacities, and how they express and process information.
Here’s how each step of the cognitive restructuring process can be tailored for children:
Identification: Children may not readily identify or articulate their thoughts unlike adults. Therapists might use more indirect methods, such as drawing, storytelling, or play, to help children express their thoughts and feelings. For example, a child could draw a picture of a time when they felt upset, and the therapist could explore what the child thinks and feels about the depicted situation.
Examination: Young children may struggle with abstract reasoning, making it challenging to analyze the accuracy of their thoughts. Therapists can use concrete examples and simpler, more relatable questions to help children evaluate their thoughts. For instance, a therapist might ask, “When you said no one likes you, were there times when someone played with you or shared their snack with you at school?” This approach helps the child see specific instances that contradict their generalization.
Challenging: Directly questioning a child’s thoughts might be too confrontational or complex. Instead, therapists often use imaginative play or role-playing games. For example, they might encourage the child to pretend they are a detective or a superhero whose job is to discover the truth about their thoughts. This playful approach can help children engage without feeling defensive or overwhelmed.
Replacement: Creating new thoughts must be done in age-appropriate language that resonates with the child’s experiences. Instead of complex cognitive reframes, the therapist might help the child develop simple, positive affirmations or mantras. For instance, changing “I can’t do this” to “I can try my best” is a straightforward and easily remembered statement that a child can repeat and understand.
Cognitive Restructuring can have a profound impact when adapted using creative, child-friendly methods that engage imagination and encourage active participation in the therapeutic process.