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Freedom as Theme in Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

J. Vyskocilova ,
J. Prasko ,
M. Slepecky ,
R. Hruby ,
A. Grambal ,
M. Holubova ,
M. Marackova ,
D. Jelenova  and
A. Cinculova
J. Vyskocilova
Affiliation:
Charles University Prague, Faculty of Humanities, Prague, Czech Republic
J. Prasko*
Affiliation:
University Hospital Olomouc, Department of Psychiatry, Olomouc, Czech Republic
M. Slepecky
Affiliation:
Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Department of Psychology Sciences, Faculty of Social Science and Health Care, Nitra, Slovakia
R. Hruby
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Outpatient Department, Psychiatric Outpatient Department, Martin, Slovakia
A. Grambal
Affiliation:
University Palacky Olomouc, University Hospital Olomouc, Department of Psychiatry, Olomouc, Czech Republic
M. Holubova
Affiliation:
Hospital Liberec, Czech Republic, Universtiy Palacky Olomouc, Department of Psychiatry, Liberec, Czech Republic
M. Marackova
Affiliation:
University Palacky Olomouc, Department of Psychiatry, Olomouc, Czech Republic
D. Jelenova
Affiliation:
University Palacky Olomouc, University Hospital Olomouc, Department of Psychiatry, Olomouc, Czech Republic
A. Cinculova
Affiliation:
University Palacky Olomouc, University Hospital Olomouc, Department of Psychiatry, Olomouc, Czech Republic
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Background

The problems that a client presents with to therapy may be associated with his possibility of free choice.

Method

Review of psychotherapeutic and cognitive behavioral literature.

Results

From a psychological perspective, freedom may be either inner or outer, depending on the nature of obstacles and barriers that limit freedom. Therapy may be understood as a process through which the client is guided to actively increase his freedom. This refers to freedom from destructive habits, self-limiting attitudes, compulsive actions, symptoms etc. When creating the relationship, neither the client nor the therapist is entirely free as they bring past conscious and unconscious experiences into it. From the point of view of CBT, freedom is always relative. The idea of absolute freedom results from cognitive distortions – black and white thinking. CBT does not consider overall freedom but relatively free decision-making in particular situations that the client is in. The therapist helps the client to identify his errors in thinking and to learn a more realistic way to formulate his experiences and to use the new attitude to decide more freely. The change in attitude is realized through rehearsing freer behavior and experiments with it in one's life.

Conclusion

Freedom may be either inner or outer, depending on the nature of obstacles and barriers that limit freedom. Therapy may be understood as a process through which the client is guided to actively increase his freedom.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
EV674
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 33 , Issue S1: Abstracts of the 24th European Congress of Psychiatry , March 2016 , pp. S456
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2016
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