Chapter 20: Thought Stopping

How is the technique implemented?

Thought stopping technique is a classic example of cognitive-behavioral therapy.  The counselor helps the client to develop mechanisms to prevent or interrupt unwanted thoughts that may be inhibiting the client.  Thought stopping is generally implemented in a four step process.  The first step is to identify the thoughts that the client wants to eliminate or interrupt.  Second, the client is asked to imagine a scenario where the thought may occur.  Next, the client and counselor both attempt to identify situations where the thought is occurring and call "Stop" to interrupt the thought.  And the final step is to substitute in a new thought for the old thought.

What type of situation can the technique be applied to?

The thought stopping technique can be (but not optimally) for a variety of situations.  However, it specializes in dealing with things like obsessions and addictions.  The entire premise of the technique is to prevent cognition of certain aspects of an individuals life which would be inhibiting to getting to real issues in other situations.

What is your opinion of the technique?

Personally I see this technique as only having one purpose and that is to aid with the elimination of obsessions and addictions.  Otherwise, I believe that this technique prevents insight which is the opposite of what a counselor should aim to do in session.