Casting Doubt
by James Middleton – Tuesday, 8 June 2010, 12:33 AM
Some patients have a real need to hang on to an irrational belief – why?
For me the classic example is the client who comes through my door and says – “My doctor says I have ME and because of my illness, I simply will never be able to return to work.”
They have managed to bind the diagnosis with the outcome that has been given – never being able to return to
work. More than once a client has said just such a statement to me in my work in the psychiatric field.
It’s neither rational nor logical that a particular diagnosis means a particular definite outcome. But, for some clients with this belief it makes perfect sense if you consider possible secondary gains.
For some, they seem to have developed these difficulties as a response to high workloads or an intolerable situation of some kind.
Usually their next statement backs this up with “ I know I won’t be able to return to work, but I just want more energy to get things round the house done, and help with the children more.”
What if I told them they might be able to return to work? And even, should I say such a thing? Invariably because of their doctor’s care and recommendations they are likely to be receiving various benefits and sickness benefits, possibly even work related partial pay or even full pay, depending on how long they have been off work.
The catchment area we covered was predominantly a low socio-economic group and definitely economically deprived.
Who was I to challenge their source of income – they stood to earn at least as much, if not more by remaining on sickness benefit?
I think we have to take the individuals circumstances into account before challenging their beliefs, particularly if there are significant secondary gains to continuing to hold their belief.
Let me know your thoughts.
Creativechanges - Ericksonian hypnotherapy 
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