An Alternative to Challenging Unusual Beliefs
An Alternative to Challenging Unusual Beliefs
Issue 29 – November 2011
Author: Steven Coles (steven.coles@nottshc.nhs.uk)Key points
- Beliefs deemed unusual hold some form of meaning and function for people
- We all hold beliefs that cannot be proven or that parts of society might disagree with
- Challenging a person’s beliefs carries the risk of leaving a someone feeling criticised, shamed and could lead to disengagement from services
Implications for practice
- Rather than challenging beliefs deemed unusual, they could be accepted and worked with. A person could be supported from their perspective of reality.
- It might be helpful to focus on what people do and how they relate to others, rather than on what they believe
- This approach still requires reflection on ethical dilemmas
- Strategies to reduce fear and increase control
- Protection strategies
- Take a break
- Predicting and planning for difficult situations
- Looking at the problem from different angles
- Turning the situation around
- Talk and Support
- Learning and Growth
- Feeling Stronger in other Areas
- Meditation, Prayer, Spiritual Sources of Help
- Problem Solving
- Problem Behaviours
REFERENCES
- Collinson, C. (2008). Understanding ‘Delusions’. Clinical Psychology Bite-Size, 5 (August, 2008)
- Coles, S. & Cromby, J. (2009). Making sense of paranoia. Clinical Psychology Bite-Size, 17, (August 2009)
- Gilbert, P. (1998). What is shame? Some core issues and controversies. In P. Gilbert and B. Andrews (Eds.). Shame. New York: Oxford University Press
- Harper, D. (2004). Delusions and discourse: Moving beyond the constraints of the modernist paradigm. Philosophy, Psychiatry & Psychology, 11, 55 – 64.
- Knight, T. (2009). Beyond belief. Berlin: Peter Lehman Publishing
- Houghton, P. (2011). Ethics in clinical practice. Clinical Psychology Bite-Size, 28 (July, 2011)
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