Identifying Problems and Solutions
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The Triangle: Thoughts, Feelings, Behaviors
The Triangle is Home-Base
The Triangle of thoughts, feelings and behaviors is the starting point for identifying problems in functioning and paths to improvement. It is one of the most important concepts for psychoeducation and should be discussed in the first therapy session. If you grasp this clearly then you always know where you are and can consider possible ways to change.
In any situation we all have thoughts, feelings, and behaviors—even if we’re doing nothing, that’s a behavior. Each point on the triangle is connected to every other point. Nothing happens in isolation. If I’m feeling poorly, chances are my thoughts are influenced by that and have a negative tone. If I’m doing something I love, most likely my thoughts are positive and I feel good. If I’m thinking I can’t get myself going in the morning, and then I do and feel better, chances are my thoughts change to a more positive tone.
The triangle gets to the heart of cognitive behavior therapy. I can’t change my feelings directly, so I work on changing my thoughts and my behaviors. Change thoughts to improve I feel. Change behaviors to improve how I feel, which in turn may change my thoughts in a positive direction. Take an example for yourself and map it on the triangle—one related to feeling bad and one when you feel good.
The power of the triangle is in its simplicity. It makes intuitive sense, thereby helping you identify problems you have with functioning, and opening up possibilities of how to change and make improvements.