Label Shifting

Who’s Against Who?

—Counter Techniques in the Making—

1. Make a list of the specific events or situations (referents) the client associates with negative words.  For instance, what referents does the client visualize when using the words “inferior,” “sick,” and “weak”?

2. Describe these referents in objective, non-evaluative terms.  What would a motion picture camera record of the event?

3. List the major negative labels the client uses to describe the situations.

4. Help the client list the neutral and positive labels that could be used to interpret the referents.  Just as valid, but elicit positive emotions.

5. Have the client practice this everyday.

  Examples: