Imagine asking for bakery recommendations because you want a cake, and these are the responses you get.
I can bake a cake but I call it a flour mound.
I'm certified in making layered frosting yum yums.
Have you tried my Cakey Von Cakerton? It's like cake, but fancier.
I've been making loop-a-dees for 15 years. It's not a traditional round cake. It's elliptical.
This is what the mental health field sounds like.
Recently, a clinician posted in a social media group that they were looking for a therapist who uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Every therapist uses CBT. Helping someone identify and reshape negative thoughts is as fundamental to mental health as baking a cake is to a baker.
The problem is many therapists don't call it that. In our drive to be unique and certified and cutting edge, we continuously repackage one of the bedrock concepts of our profession. We put a classic idea in a different box and sell it as something entirely new.
Imagine being the client trying to climb through this landslide of verbiage. It causes confusion in people who are already confused. That's why they are seeking help! Using a new activity or exercise doesn't create a new therapeutic approach any more than using a new frosting color makes a new type of cake.
Standard terminology isn't a bad thing that robs you of your identity. It's there for the benefit of our clients, to make their lives easier. We are here to simplify, not complicate. Clients should not have to learn a new language to understands what is in their head.
Yes, we all take unique approaches to help our clients navigate their specific problems. We can use CBT in a way that fits our style, just as every baker puts their personal spin on cake.
But they all bake cakes.
I use CBT.
For information on individual therapy, contact me at bradleyjabel@gmail.com
