Title: Irrational Beliefs | Counseling Center
Headings: Irrational Beliefs
Irrational Beliefs
Handling Irrational Beliefs from Tools for Personal Growth (1999-2010), by James J. Messina, Ph.D.
I. What are irrational beliefs?
II. What are some examples of irrational beliefs?
About Yourself:
Irrational beliefs (negative) about others:
Irrational beliefs on other topics
How can we recognize irrational beliefs? Irrational beliefs can be present if we:
What are the benefits of refuting our irrational beliefs?
By refuting our irrational beliefs we are able to:
Steps to take in refuting an irrational belief
Step 1: Is your thinking and problem solving ability being blocked by an irrational belief? Consider a specific problem as you answer the following questions:
Step 2: If you have answered yes to any or all of the questions in Step 1, you are probably facing a problem or situation in which a blocking irrational belief is clouding your thinking. The next thing to do is to try to identify the blocking irrational belief. Answer the following questions in your journal:
Step 3: Once you have identified the blocking belief in Step 2, test its rationality. Answer the following questions about the belief, yes or no.
Step 4: Once you have determined that the blocking belief is irrational, you are ready to refute this irrational belief. Respond to the following questions in your journal:

Content: A handicapped person is imperfect, to be pitied, and to be dropped along the path of life. Admitting to a mistake or to failure is a sign of weakness. The showing of any kind of emotion is wrong, a sign of weakness, and not allowable. Asking for help from someone else is a way of admitting your weakness; it denies the reality that only you can solve your problems. How can we recognize irrational beliefs? Irrational beliefs can be present if we: Find ourselves caught up in a vicious cycle in addressing our problems. Find a continuing series of “catch 22’s’’ where every move we make to resolve a problem results in more or greater problems. Have been suffering silently (or not so silently) with a problem for a long time, yet have not taken steps to get help to address the problem.