Level I: Intrapsychic Restructuring (IR)

Intrapsychic Restructuring (IR) comprises a large body of treatment techniques and sub-methods (Defensive Restructuring, Cognitive Restructuring, Affective Restructuring, Cognitive-behavioral Restructuring & Neurobiological Restructuring) designed to reorganize and restructure processes/structures/functions that operate within the mind/brain of the individual. Thus, IR operates primarily at Level I (intrapsychic-biological matrix) of the total ecological system and is thus the most microscopic perspective of analysis. Within this level techniques which impact cognitive, relational, and attachment schemata, affective-defensive processes, anxiety regulation, and neurobiological functions.

A SAMPLE LIST OF TECHNIQUES (Go to Psychotherapedia for a more complete listing)

Defensive Restructuring:

  • Labeling with qualification (Bateman & Fonagy, 2006)
  • Intensification of defense (Perls, 1969)
  • Clarification of defense (Reich, 1933; Davanloo, 1980)
  • Disrupting defenses by blocking defensive operations (Ferenczi, 1925; Reich, 1933)
  • Cataloging defenses (Davanloo, 1980; Magnavita, 1997)
  • Confrontation of Defenses (Magnavita, 2005)
  • Supporting Defenses (Magnavita, 2005)
  • Dialectical assessment (Linehan, 1993)

Cognitive Restructuring:

  • Challenging dysfunctional belief (Beck, 1995)
  • Image/Thought Stopping (Beck, 1995)
  • Behavioral Experiments (Beck, 1995)
  • Creating a Cognitive Continuum (Beck, 1995)
  • Rational-Emotional Role Play (Beck, 1995)
  • Belief Variations (Beck, 1995)
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis (Beck, 1995)
  • Identification of maladaptive schema (Beck, 1995; Young, 2002)
  • Differentiation of affect-anxiety-defense (Davanloo, 1980)
  • Framing, reframing, and deframing (Fraser & Solovey, 2007)
  • Construction of narrative through metaphor (James, 1996)
  • Use of Metaphor (Linehan, 1993)
  • Maintain a Dialectical Stance (Linehan, 1993)
  • Epitaphs (Neimeyer, 1999)
  • Externalize the Problem (Payne, 2000; White & Epston, 1990; Wolter et al., 2006)
  • Schema Dialogue (Young, 2002)

Affective Restructuring:

  • Differentiation of affect  (Davanloo, 1980; Greenberg, 1987; Fosha, 2002)
  • Graded Format  (Davanloo, 1991, Whittemore, 1996)
  • Forceful Coping Statements  (Ellis & Abrahms, 1978)
  • Awareness and Relaxation Training  (Tatarsky, 2003)
  • Pro-Change Position  (Fraser & Solovey, 2007)
  • Affect Elaboration  (Bateman & Fonagy, 2006)
  • Playing Out Polarities  (Magnavita, 2005)
  • Accessing wise mind  (Linehan, 1993)
  • Increasing body awareness through singing with movement  (James, 1996)

Cognitive Behavioral:

  • Classical Conditioning
  • Aversive Conditioning
  • In vivo-exposure to feared situation
  • Extinction
  • Disputing  (Ellis, 1962)
  • Rational Coping Statements  (Ellis, 1957)
  • Proselytizing  (Ellis & Abrahms, 1978)
  • Referenting  (Danysh, 1974)
  • Shame Attacking  (Ellis, 1968)
  • Recording Therapy Sessions  (Ellis & Abrahms, 1978)

Neurobiological Restructuring:

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (Sharpiro, 2001))
  • Biofeedback (Gevirtz, 2003; Moss, 1999; Moss & Andrasik, 2008)
  • Hypnosis (Barbasz & Watkins, 2005)
  • Indirect forms of Hypnosis (Auld, 2006; Erikson & Rossi,1993;  Zweig & Geary, 2001)
  • Heart Rhythm Variability (McCraty & Tomasino, 2006)
  • Open focus technique (Fehmi, L. & Robbins, J., 2007)
  • Mindfullness training (Gerner, Siegel, & Fulton, 2007); Hofmann, et. al., 2010)
  • Relaxation training (Benson, 1979; Benson, 2000)
  • Diaphragmatic breathing (Keller, 2007)