Dr. David Burns

So you opened up instead of using your karate on him?

So you opened up instead of using your karate on him?

She tried. And was that important to be vulnerable and human?

She tried. And was that important to be vulnerable and human?

Why would have the therapy not worked or been less effective if you hadn't allowed yourself to be vulnerable and real?

Why would have the therapy not worked or been less effective if you hadn't allowed yourself to be vulnerable and real?

Okay, nice. That's beautifully stated. I hope some of our listeners picked up on that because things are not as simple as we sometimes want to think they are. And if all I have to do is learn exposure, and then I'll be an ace therapist because I'll push my patients to do exposure. And you're saying that even to do exposure, there's an important part of a warm, trusting therapeutic relationship.

Okay, nice. That's beautifully stated. I hope some of our listeners picked up on that because things are not as simple as we sometimes want to think they are. And if all I have to do is learn exposure, and then I'll be an ace therapist because I'll push my patients to do exposure. And you're saying that even to do exposure, there's an important part of a warm, trusting therapeutic relationship.

And that without that, it can, could even sabotage the attempts to use exposure.

And that without that, it can, could even sabotage the attempts to use exposure.

I also think and would want to ask you, Lee and Werner were in the car with you, I believe. They were. Did that social structure make it easier for you to do the exposure?

I also think and would want to ask you, Lee and Werner were in the car with you, I believe. They were. Did that social structure make it easier for you to do the exposure?

Made it harder to do the exposure due to the embarrassment of showing your fears?

Made it harder to do the exposure due to the embarrassment of showing your fears?

And the thought that they would judge you?

And the thought that they would judge you?

Oh, yeah, for sure. Yeah. You know, I have a theory about that, by the way, and it's that your thoughts create your moods.

Oh, yeah, for sure. Yeah. You know, I have a theory about that, by the way, and it's that your thoughts create your moods.

So kindness and tenderness and gentleness can be powerful tools to overcome violent feelings.

So kindness and tenderness and gentleness can be powerful tools to overcome violent feelings.