Brilliant Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, 2nd Edition

Elaborating the formulation

Of course beginning to understand the events of that one night was only the start for Peter. Reflecting on parallels with other incidents in his life, Peter began to flesh out his formulation.

He looked at predisposing factors that included the constant stream of criticism he had been exposed to as a child, and began to see that the cocky, arrogant air he assumed at work was actually a compensatory strategy to mask his damaged self-esteem.

The emerging formulation also showed him how fear of further humiliation had prompted Peter to develop a number of ‘protective’ assumptions and safety behaviours that guaranteed yet more heartache and rejection and were reinforcing his beliefs that he was unlovable and inadequate. ...