Glossary
Cognitive Bias
A cognitive bias is a systematic error in thinking that occurs when people are processing and interpreting information in the world around them which affects the decisions and judgments that they make.
Everyone exhibits cognitive bias. It might be easier to spot in others, but it is important to know that it is something that affects everybody. There are a few types of Cognitive Biases, one of which is Confirmation Bias. Confirmation Bias is favoring information that conforms to your existing beliefs and discounting evidence that does not conform.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a psycho-social intervention that aims to improve mental health by focusing on challenging and changing cognitive distortions (e.g. thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes) and behaviours, improving emotional regulation, and the development of personal coping strategies that target solving current problems. It is a "problem-focused" and "action-oriented" form of therapy, meaning it is used to treat specific problems related to a diagnosed mental disorder. The therapist's role is to assist the client in finding and practicing effective strategies to address the identified goals and alleviate symptoms of the disorder.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Motivational interviewing is a directive, client-centred counselling style for eliciting behaviour change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. The examination and resolution of ambivalence is a central purpose, and the counsellor is intentionally directive in pursuing this goal.
The incorporation of MI can help patients resolve their uncertainties and hesitancies that may stop them from their inherent want of change in relation to a certain behaviour or habit. MI involves collaboration not confrontation, evocation not education, autonomy rather than authority, and exploration instead of explanation. Effective processes for positive change focus on goals that are small, important to the client, specific, realistic, and oriented in the present and/or future.
Person-centered approach
A person-centred approach is where the person is placed at the centre of the treatment and treated as a person first. The focus is on the person and what they can do, not their condition or disability. The therapy focuses on achieving the person’s aspirations and be tailored to their needs and unique circumstances.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Solution-focused (brief) therapy focuses on addressing what clients want to achieve without exploring the history and provenance of problem(s) so it focuses on the present and future. SFBT focuses on building solutions by conceptualizing a preferred future with clients, finding alternatives to the problem, not identifying and eliminating the problem.
Strength-based approach
Strength-based approach is a way of viewing clients as resourceful and resilient in the face of adversity. It focuses on individuals’ strengths as well as wider social and community networks
Trauma-informed approach
Trauma-informed approach is to assume that a client may have experienced a traumatic experience before they come to seek help. Hence the therapist needs to maintain a ‘do no harm’ approach, where they do not re-traumatise the client because if a trauma survivor experiences the service as unsafe, disempowering and/or invalidating they may withdraw from seeking support.
