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)