Session 1A and 1B concentrates on positive restructuring, which is a cognitive technique and sets out, firstly, for clients to take responsibility which is essential in initiating the process of change.
Secondly, the session introduces identifying and challenging maladaptive thinking patterns such as “I am unworthy”. This is an important step because it paves the way for group members to be encouraged throughout the programme to replace negative shame-based scripts with new self-affirming scripts. The incorporation of faith is conducive to balancing a central dialectic behavioural principle of acceptance and change, because it opens a gateway to internalise feelings of worthiness and self-compassion which is often a precursor to empathy and self-control. The inclusion of faith also sets in motion to reflect on the purpose and meaning of life.
