Welcome back to the second blog where I’m going to tell you how to get the most from the self help program which is the central component of the site. The self help program and the weekly video section are the two components that will teach you how to overcome your symptoms. Both are designed to work with each other and each complements the other.
Learning the actual CBT techniques is the first stage of your journey. Every success you have as you progress with the program will depend on how well you learn the techniques and how well you integrate them into your daily life and thinking. This is crucial because simply learning them will not be enough if you really want to experience mental and emotional change. You will also need to practice internalizing and integrating them into every aspect of your thinking and being. If you don’t, the program won’t and can’t work for you. In therapy I give patients exercises to carry out at home in order for them to learn and internalize what they have been learning in our sessions. The same goes for you, you will need to be dedicated if you are serious about bringing permanent change into your life.
As you will see, the program is a seven module program which includes two modules that aren’t CBT modules. They are the third and seventh module and will teach you how to become consciously aware and how to live in the present. They are a vital, integral and essential part of the program and it will be difficult to succeed without them. They are the key to your CBT success and will make the learning much easier for you as both will help you focus and concentrate on the program far more effectively.
Conscious awareness will contribute to your success in a big way, but also when you live in the present you gain the potential to open doors that were previously locked. It gives you many more possibilities for success as it helps you see the world very differently and helps you focus in a conscious rather than a half a sleep-half present state. (Which is where most of us live)
You will see that the program purely focuses on teaching the techniques and doesn’t address particular problems or symptoms. You may wonder why I have not included the actual problem/symptom issues such as low mood, anxiety, panic attacks, lack of concentration etc into the main program. The reason is this: When you learn the techniques in a pure way, you learn the techniques themselves. You need to do this. You need to understand how to use the techniques as they are taught, so that you can then apply them to your own specific problems as well as your life. It is a two stage process, firstly you learn the techniques, and secondly you apply them for your own use.
Again, firstly the program teaches you the techniques, then you go on to use the weekly videos which teach you how to apply them to your own specific symptoms. Don’t worry; I will be making a whole series of videos focusing on the application of the same CBT techniques you will be learning in the program. I’ll show you exactly at how to apply them and through these demonstrations you then apply the techniques for yourself to your specific problem.
I have arranged the program in the way I have because it is vital to firstly learn the techniques from the actual program and only then, learn how to apply them. I have learned that it’s good to have a pragmatic approach where you know where you are and can be in control of your progress.
Lastly, I have learned that it is not necessary to be in a therapy environment to learn CBT techniques as they can be learned just as well through a self help program. The program has sixty videos which is the equivalent of twelve hours of therapy, plus the series of videos teaching you the application. So, all you need to do if you want to start this journey is to sign up for the program and start learning. The opportunity is there for you to embrace,
In the third blog I will tell you about the other parts of the site and how to get the most from them.
So, good luck and hope to see you on the site…. Carole