First principles

In this chapter you will be given an overview of the CBT model of the mind and introduced to the five key principles upon which it depends. To any reader eager to get stuck in, please don’t be tempted to rush through the next few pages. Unless you grasp the underlying principles, and have confidence in them, it will be hard to apply them effectively to your own situation.

Principle 1: There is always another point of view

Our minds are capable of organising the same input in very different ways. To illustrate this principle have a look at the famous optical illusion below. What do you see?

Some of you will see an old lady with a beaked nose ...

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