I have experience in lots of things working with different people, so, I though I would write about it here.
First up: the beginning of my career
I started my career working in psychiatric wards within the Glasgow region, back in the 1980s. There were some real characters and, for me, it was character building. I had to learn fast and respond, often quickly, to different personality types and the specific needs and desires of individuals.
One of the most important aspects was to respect each person no matter what, and be none judgmental. All the qualifications in the world cannot prepare you for real work experience in this way: kind of like learning to drive but the real learning only starts when you get out on the road by yourself. Some of the methods I self-learned back then, in hindsight, very much feel like the practice of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy now.
For example, I recall one patient who believed he was being persecuted by the government. Back in the 80s we were taught not to collude with patients if they had delusions of things like conspiracy. But, I simply asked how the patient felt and how it affected him. He stated right there and then that nobody had ever asked him how he actually felt. It is only now I realise that this was CBT at work. I was able to strike a connection with an individual and work with them. No matter how strange someone’s situation may appear to others, how they feel about their situation is paramount.
People often think that CBT is just about thought patterns. However, it is much more. It is about exploring the feelings and behaviors alongside why these thoughts are happening.
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