Dr. David Burns

And it just hurts me so badly to hurt someone like that. No, I'm just being ridiculous now. But I'm just feeling like I'm just a loser. So what help can you give me?

Let's do some externalization of voices. You want to, Matt and Rhonda?

Let's do some externalization of voices. You want to, Matt and Rhonda?

Either way. Sure. Sure, we can do. Rhonda and I will be Matt's negative thoughts. In this exercise, actually all of us are named Matt. Okay. And we're going to be Matt's negative thoughts. These are the things he's telling himself. And we're going to attack him with his own thoughts.

Either way. Sure. Sure, we can do. Rhonda and I will be Matt's negative thoughts. In this exercise, actually all of us are named Matt. Okay. And we're going to be Matt's negative thoughts. These are the things he's telling himself. And we're going to attack him with his own thoughts.

And your job, Matt, is to speak in the first-person eye and see if you can defeat us and you can use three strategies, the acceptance paradox, the self-defense paradigm, the counterattack technique, or a fourth option would be other, any other technique you want to use. So give us a few negative thoughts so we'll know what your negative thoughts are.

And your job, Matt, is to speak in the first-person eye and see if you can defeat us and you can use three strategies, the acceptance paradox, the self-defense paradigm, the counterattack technique, or a fourth option would be other, any other technique you want to use. So give us a few negative thoughts so we'll know what your negative thoughts are.

I'm worthless. I'm a loser. But let's just start with that, okay?

I'm worthless. I'm a loser. But let's just start with that, okay?

And also you've listed ten really scary negative thoughts, really painful negative thoughts on the sheet that you passed to us.

And also you've listed ten really scary negative thoughts, really painful negative thoughts on the sheet that you passed to us.

Yeah, okay, good one. Everyone's looking down on that.

Yeah, okay, good one. Everyone's looking down on that.

Yeah, I'm going to name it Manuel because it's so big and ugly.

Yeah, I'm going to name it Manuel because it's so big and ugly.

Oh, yeah, yeah. Manuel, you also said, everyone hates me. Yeah.

Oh, yeah, yeah. Manuel, you also said, everyone hates me. Yeah.

Okay, are you ready, Matt?

Okay, are you ready, Matt?

Okay. Now, keep in mind, this is not training for interacting with the bully. This is interacting with the inner bully, the thoughts that you give yourself and how to talk back to those. Because in the last analysis, you're the only one who can really bully yourself, although that might sound uncharitable. But could I talk to you for a minute, Matt?