Intrusive thoughts — psychotherapy techniques

Creating distance between the person and their thoughts. A thought is not a fact; it is an event in the mind. The client moves from "I am a …

DBT

Observe

Building the capacity to notice phenomena — thoughts, emotions, sensations, events — without trying to change them, stop them, or grab onto …

Frankl

Self-Distancing through Humour

Humor is one of the modes of self-distancing — the human capacity to look at oneself from the outside. When the client can laugh at their sy…

MCT

Thought Suppression Experiment

A behavioral experiment that demonstrates the paradox of suppression. The client is asked not to think of a particular object for several mi…

Yalom

Paradoxical Intention

The client deliberately intensifies the feared symptom instead of avoiding it: in panic — "I'll try to feel the maximum fear"; in insomnia —…

Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.